Java Security

hey folks,

i would like to store a certificate's private key in a mysql db.

my problem is that i don't know how to convert it back to a PrivateKey when i extract it from the db.

i use the function Base64.encode(userPrivKey.getEncoded()); (org.bouncycastle.util.encoders.Base64; to store the private key base64 encoded in the db.

when i extract the key from the db i can decode it with Base64.decode(). the problem is that the decode function only returns a byte array.

so does anybody know how i can convert that byte array back to a private key?

or is there any other (better) solution to store and retrieve private keys from a mysql db?

many thanks

toto