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sys.symmetric_keys (Transact-SQL)

SQL Server 2005

Updated: 17 November 2008

Returns one row for every symmetric key created with the CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY statement.

Column name	Data type	Description
name	sysname	Name of the key. Unique within the database.
principal_id	int	ID of the database principal who owns the key.
symmetric_key_id	int	ID of the key. Unique within the database.
key_length	int	Length of the key in bits.
key_algorithm	char(2)	Algorithm used with the key: R2 = RC2 R4 = RC4 D = DES D3 = Triple DES DX = DESX A1 = AES 128 A2 = AES 192 A3 = AES 256
algorithm_desc	nvarchar(60)	Description of the algorithm used with the key: RC2 RC4 DES Triple_DES DESX AES_128 AES_192 AES_256
create_date	datetime	Date the key was created.
modify_date	datetime	Date the key was modified.
key_guid	uniqueidentifier	Globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with the key. It is auto-generated for persisted keys. GUIDs for temporary keys are derived from the user-supplied pass phrase.

Clarification regarding DES algorithms:

DESX was incorrectly named. Symmetric keys created with ALGORITHM = DESX actually use the TRIPLE DES cipher with a 192-bit key. The DESX algorithm is not provided.
Symmetric keys created with ALGORITHM = TRIPLE_DES use TRIPLE DES with a 128-bit key.

Release	History
17 November 2008	New content: Added clarification about the DES algorithms.

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