# secret_key: Authentication in the XML API Service

Using the CLI utility `secret_key` is another way to generate a key that can be used in XML API calls for authentication in Plesk. Plesk’s XML API interface provides the `secret_key` operator, which serves the same purpose.

## Usage

    secret_key <command> [
    <option_1> [<param>]
    [<option_2> [<param>]]
    ]

## Example

The following command creates a secret key and associates it with the IP address 192.168.1.100:

    plesk bin secret_key -c -ip-address 192.168.1.100

## Commands

Command | Parameter | Description | Example
--- | --- | --- | ---
`--create or -c` |  | Generates a secret key for the specified IP address. Used with the `-ip-address` and `-description` options. | To create a secret key associated with the IP address 192.168.1.100 and the description “test key”:
    plesk bin secret_key --create -ip-address 192.168.1.100 -description "test key"
`--list` or `-l` |  | Displays a list of existing secret keys, their IP addresses and descriptions. | To display all secret keys issued by Plesk:
    plesk bin secret_key --list
`--delete` or `-d` | `<key>` | Removes the specified secret key. Used with the `-key` option. | To delete the key becc9673c714723515ca9bbeb6c83c73:
    plesk bin secret_key --delete -key becc9673c714723515ca9bbeb6c83c73
`--help` or `-h` |  | Displays help on the usage of the utility. | To view help on the use of the utility:
    plesk bin secret_key -h

## Options

Option | Parameter | Description | Example
--- | --- | --- | ---
`-ip-address` | `<ip address>` | The IP address with which the key is associated. From this address you are going to send XML API requests to the Plesk server. Used with the `--create` command. | To create a secret key associated with the IP address 192.168.1.100 and the description “test key”:
    plesk bin secret_key,exe -create -ip-address 192.168.1.100 -description "test key"
`-description` | `<string>` | Description of the secret key. Used with the `--create` command. |
`-key` | `<string>` | Secret key. Used with the `--delete` command. | To delete the key becc9673c714723515ca9bbeb6c83c73:
    plesk bin secret_key --delete -key becc9673c714723515ca9bbeb6c83c73