Release: gpg (GnuPG) 1.2.2

Environment

x86
suse linux 9.0

Description

I'm trying to create a keypair on a usb-stick (fat). for security reasons Keys shouldn't be stored locally on the disk. Also, keys should be accessible on linux and an additional windows machine (laptop).

By generating a keypair, I'm getting the following error messages.

gpg: lock not made: link() failed: Operation not permitted
gpg: can't lock `/media/sdc1/pgp/pubring.gpg'
gpg: lock not made: link() failed: Operation not permitted
gpg: can't lock `/media/sdc1/pgp/secring.gpg'
gpg: error writing public keyring `/media/sdc1/pgp/pubring.gpg': general error
Key generation failed: general error

However, generating keyrings on a native linux partition (on the usb-stick) works.

How To Repeat

gpg --gen-key

Fix

GnupG needs to lock the keyrings and it does this in a standard way by using a link. There is a way to emulate
proper Unix FS on top of a FAT; you should enable this in the kernel or via a mount option.

Workaround is to use the option --lock-never