# Activate the vault

### Preface

The rport server has a built-in key-value store based on an encrypted sqlite database. A passphrase – the so-called master key – is needed for encryption and decryption. This master-key resides only in the memory of the rport server and is not stored on the hard disk or any other permanent storage. 

Only the values of the key-value store are encrypted. Keys are stored plain text. 

### Initialize the vault

After a fresh installation, the vault needs to be initialized.

![Vault initializing](https://1574570054-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MekeI9EovpQqbUTQSdM%2F-Mj3caIetd55atLKgRjy%2F-Mj3cdDn6fo9gP3VAp_s%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=d0ee2b9b-abd7-4656-b650-7522fff1bed3)