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API Keys

API keys are machine credentials used by the Hall API server to enroll and authenticate with the pyhall registry. They are scoped to a namespace and cannot be used across namespaces.

Generating a Key

  1. Go to Dashboard → API Keys.
  2. Select the namespace from the dropdown.
  3. Click Generate Key.
  4. Copy the full API key immediately — it is shown only once. After you leave or reload the page, the plaintext key is gone. Only a hash is stored.

The key format is pyhall_<namespace>_<random>. Store it in your Hall API server’s environment as PYHALL_API_KEY.

Key Scopes

Keys are auto-scoped based on the namespace type:

ScopeWhat it authorizes
hall:enrollHall API server enrollment and session renewal
runtime:deliveryDispatch verification calls from the Hall API

All keys receive both scopes. There is no way to create a read-only or partial-scope key — keys are full machine credentials.

Active Keys Table

The keys table shows all non-revoked keys for your namespaces. Each row shows:

ColumnDescription
Key IDFirst 8 characters of the key hash (for identification)
NamespaceWhich namespace this key is scoped to
ScopesAuthorized operations
CreatedCreation date
Last UsedMost recent API call using this key
StatusActive or Revoked

Revoking a Key

Click Revoke on any active key. Revocation is immediate and permanent — the Hall API server using that key will fail to authenticate on the next call. You’ll need to generate a new key and update the server’s environment.

Revoke a key if:

  • A key is compromised or accidentally exposed
  • A Hall API instance is being decommissioned
  • You are rotating credentials as a security practice

Key Limits

Your tier determines how many active API keys you can have per namespace. If you hit the limit, revoke an unused key before generating a new one. Key limits:

TierKeys per Namespace
Free1
Pro10
Org Starter25
Org Professional50
Org Business150
EnterpriseUnlimited

Security Notes

  • Never commit API keys to source control. Use environment variables or a secrets manager.
  • Keys are stored as bcrypt hashes in the registry. There is no way to recover a lost key.
  • If you lose a key, revoke it and generate a new one.
  • API keys are separate from your pyhall account login — losing a key does not affect your account access.