-# export the host public key to the monkeysphere ssh pub key file
-log debug "creating ssh public key file..."
-ssh-keygen -y -f "$keyFile" > "$HOST_KEY_PUB"
-log info "SSH host public key file: $HOST_KEY_PUB"
-
-# export to gpg public key to file
-create_gpg_pub_file
+# create host home
+mkdir -p "${MHDATADIR}"
+mkdir -p "${GNUPGHOME_HOST}"
+chmod 700 "${GNUPGHOME_HOST}"
+
+# import pem-encoded key to an OpenPGP private key
+if [ "$keyFile" = '-' ] ; then
+ log verbose "importing key from stdin..."
+ PEM2OPENPGP_USAGE_FLAGS=authenticate pem2openpgp "$serviceName" \
+ | gpg_host --import
+else
+ log verbose "importing key from file '$keyFile'..."
+ PEM2OPENPGP_USAGE_FLAGS=authenticate pem2openpgp "$serviceName" \
+ <"$keyFile" \
+ | gpg_host --import
+fi
+
+# export to OpenPGP public key to file
+update_pgp_pub_file
+
+log info "host key imported:"