.. _getserial:

Get serial by OTP
-----------------

In the menu "Tools" you call the dialog "Get serial by OTP".

Using this functionality you can enter a single OTP value to determine, what is the serial number of this token.
This can be used if you find a token that has no serial number printed on it anymore.
Many tokens of different vendors have a paper sticker on the back with the serial number.
Sometimes the sticker falls or or the printing is rubbed of. 

So this is a convenient way to identify an unknown token.

.. figure:: images/webui_popup_get_serial.png
   :width: 70%

   *LinOTP offers to determine the serial number by providing an OTP value*
   
You can limit the tokens, in which this OTP value should be searched by either defining 

 * the ``type`` of the token,
 * whether the token is ``assigned`` or not
 * and if the token should be in a certain ``realm``.

Of course you need to enter the ``otp value`` that you want to search for.

.. WARNING:: As LinOTP needs to calculate many future OTP values of many tokens, this can be very time consuming!