---
title: Copying the key from the source to the target server
description: You must copy the key from the source server to the target server before you migrate data using the configcopy tool.
component: pingfederate
version: 13.1
page_id: pingfederate:administrators_reference_guide:pf_copying_key_from_sourc_to_target_server
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/13.1/administrators_reference_guide/pf_copying_key_from_sourc_to_target_server.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: July 5, 2022
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Copying the key from the source to the target server

You must copy the key from the source server to the target server before you migrate data using the `configcopy` tool.

## About this task

|   |                                                                                                             |
| - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | As of PingFederate 10.2, the `configcopy` tool has been deprecated and will be removed in a future release. |

To copy the key from the source to the target server, you copy the needed keys from the `pf.jwk` file on the source server and append it to the last key in the `pf.jwk` file on the target server, and then restart that target server. This step only needs to be completed before the first migration.

## Steps

1. In your PingFederate installation on the source server, open the `pf.jwk` file in the `<pf_install>/pingfederate/server/default/data` directory.

2. Copy the key in the file.

   Make sure you copy the entire key JSON message, as in the following example.

   ```
   {"keys":[[.b]**\{"kty":"oct","kid":"j0PUEdAb95","k":"AGi8Lg_ewdl-_30Cx83kDMQE9oNlhgJSa_Pc4I8JTU8"}**]}
   ```

3. In your PingFederate installation on the target sever, open the `pf.jwk` file.

4. Insert a comma at the end of the last key in the file and append the source key.

   For example, if the `pf.jwk` on the target server reads as follows.

   ```
   {"keys":[{"kty":"oct","kid":"wER9zEpaPe","k":"i0HQr9JmsqjAX4o_BQU1qGJzoLQI-nmwp8u3GyHzTB8"}]}
   ```

   Insert the comma and the source key as shown.

   ```
   {"keys":[{"kty":"oct","kid":"wER9zEpaPe","k":"i0HQr9JmsqjAX4o_BQU1qGJzoLQI-nmwp8u3GyHzTB8"},
    [.b]**\{"kty":"oct","kid":"j0PUEdAb95","k":"AGi8Lg_ewdl-_30Cx83kDMQE9oNlhgJSa_Pc4I8JTU8"}**]}
   ```

   |   |                                                  |
   | - | ------------------------------------------------ |
   |   | This is a well-formed JSON document in one line. |

5. Save the `pf.jwk` file and restart the target server.

6. If applicable, repeat the steps above for each target PingFederate server.