Help — Drive A
Drive A — your access bundle
Drive A is a pre-provisioned access bundle that lets you reach your storage quickly without typing your keys every time. It is a convenience tool — not a key backup.
What Drive A contains
Drive A holds a hot-path access token and enough routing information to locate your storage bulb. It does not contain your Shape Key or your Coordinate. It cannot be used to derive those values. Losing Drive A does not mean losing your keys.
Drive A v4 bundle structure
format_version: 4
bundle_mode: Owner | Token
master_hash: [derived from your keys — 32 bytes]
central_hint: [routing only — 32 bytes]
hot_path_token: [scoped access credential]
bundle_mode: Owner | Token
master_hash: [derived from your keys — 32 bytes]
central_hint: [routing only — 32 bytes]
hot_path_token: [scoped access credential]
The master_hash is a one-way derivation from your keys. It's used to authenticate you to your bulb. It cannot be reversed to recover your Shape Key or Coordinate.
Token scope options
Upload only
The token authorizes uploads but not downloads. Useful for a source or field operator who needs to deposit material but should not be able to retrieve existing files from that device.
Download only
The token authorizes downloads but not uploads. Useful for a recipient-side Drive A that should only be able to retrieve files, not add new ones.
Upload + download
Full access. Standard for a personal Drive A used for regular access to your own storage.
One-time use (burn-on-use)
The token is consumed on first successful use. The Drive A becomes inert after — a receipt with no re-access capability. For single-operation scenarios where you need to walk away clean after one upload or download.
Provisioning and regenerating Drive A
Provision during initial Navigator setup
The Navigator prompts you to create a Drive A bundle immediately after provisioning your storage. Do this before closing the app for the first time. Choose your scope and use-limit settings.
Choose your storage format
Drive A can be written to a USB drive or saved as an encrypted file on disk. USB is portable and can be physically separated from your device. File-on-disk is convenient but requires the device to be with you.
Regenerate when tokens expire
Hot-path tokens have a TTL. The Navigator will notify you when regeneration is needed. Regeneration requires your Shape Key and Coordinate — either by typing them or by having a valid Drive A session active. Plan ahead; don't let your Drive A expire without a regeneration plan.
Important: Drive A is not a key backup
Losing Drive A is not the same as losing your keys
Drive A does not contain your Shape Key or Coordinate. If Drive A is lost, use manual entry (Path 1) to reconnect and provision a fresh Drive A. However — if you've also lost your keys and have no physical backup, then losing Drive A means losing everything. Store your keys separately from Drive A.