.pem - Defined in RFCs 1421 through 1424, this is a container format that may include just the public certificate (such as with Apache installs, and CA certificate files /etc/ssl/certs), or may include an entire certificate chain including public key, private key, and root certificates. All SSL Certificates require a private key to work. The private key is a separate file that’s used in the encryption/decryption of data sent between your server and the connecting clients. A private key is created by you—the certificate owner—when you request.

1. Openssl Create Certificate From Existing Private Key
2. Generate Private Key From Pem
3. Generate Pem Key Windows
4. Openssl Generate Public Certificate From Private Key
5. Get Private Key From Certificate

While Encrypting a File with a Password from the Command Line using OpenSSLis very useful in its own right, the real power of the OpenSSL library is itsability to support the use of public key cryptograph for encrypting orvalidating data in an unattended manner (where the password is not required toencrypt) is done with public keys.

The Commands to Run

Generate a 2048 bit RSA Key

You can generate a public and private RSA key pair like this:

openssl genrsa -des3 -out private.pem 2048

That generates a 2048-bit RSA key pair, encrypts them with a password you provideand writes them to a file. You need to next extract the public key file. You willuse this, for instance, on your web server to encrypt content so that it canonly be read with the private key.

Export the RSA Public Key to a File

This is a command that is

openssl rsa -in private.pem -outform PEM -pubout -out public.pem

The -pubout flag is really important. Be sure to include it.

Next open the public.pem and ensure that it starts with-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----. This is how you know that this file is thepublic key of the pair and not a private key.

To check the file from the command line you can use the less command, like this:

less public.pem

Do Not Run This, it Exports the Private Key

A previous version of the post gave this example in error.

openssl rsa -in private.pem -out private_unencrypted.pem -outform PEM

The error is that the -pubout was dropped from the end of the command.That changes the meaning of the command from that of exporting the public keyto exporting the private key outside of its encrypted wrapper. Inspecting theoutput file, in this case private_unencrypted.pem clearly shows that the keyis a RSA private key as it starts with -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----.

Visually Inspect Your Key Files

It is important to visually inspect you private and public key files to makesure that they are what you expect. OpenSSL will clearly explain the nature ofthe key block with a -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY----- or -----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----.

You can use less to inspect each of your two files in turn:

• less private.pem to verify that it starts with a -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
• less public.pem to verify that it starts with a -----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----

The next section shows a full example of what each key file should look like.

Openssl Create Certificate From Existing Private Key

The Generated Key Files

The generated files are base64-encoded encryption keys in plain text format.If you select a password for your private key, its file will be encrypted withyour password. Be sure to remember this password or the key pair becomes useless.

The private.pem file looks something like this:

The public key, public.pem, file looks like:

Protecting Your Keys

Depending on the nature of the information you will protect, it’s important tokeep the private key backed up and secret. The public key can be distributedanywhere or embedded in your web application scripts, such as in your PHP,Ruby, or other scripts. Again, backup your keys!

Remember, if the key goes away the data encrypted to it is gone. Keeping aprinted copy of the key material in a sealed envelope in a bank safety depositbox is a good way to protect important keys against loss due to fire or harddrive failure. Create rsa key linux.

Generate Private Key From Pem

Oh, and one last thing.

If you, dear reader, were planning any funny business with the private key that I have just published here. Know that they were made especially for this series of blog posts. I do not use them for anything else.

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Generate Pem Key Windows

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.pem SSL Creation Instructions

SSL .pem files (concatenated certificate container files), are frequently required for certificate installations when multiple certificates are being imported as one file.

This article contains multiple sets of instructions that walk through various .pem file creation scenarios.

Creating a .pem with the Entire SSL Certificate Trust Chain

1. Log into your DigiCert Management Console and download your Intermediate (DigiCertCA.crt), Root (TrustedRoot.crt), and Primary Certificates (your_domain_name.crt).

2. Open a text editor (such as wordpad) and paste the entire body of each certificate into one text file in the following order:

   1. The Primary Certificate - your_domain_name.crt
   2. The Intermediate Certificate - DigiCertCA.crt
   3. The Root Certificate - TrustedRoot.crt

   Make sure to include the beginning and end tags on each certificate. The result should look like this:

   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Primary SSL certificate: your_domain_name.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Intermediate certificate: DigiCertCA.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Root certificate: TrustedRoot.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----

   Save the combined file as your_domain_name.pem. The .pem file is now ready to use.

Creating a .pem with the Server and Intermediate Certificates

Openssl Generate Public Certificate From Private Key

1. Log into your DigiCert Management Console and download your Intermediate (DigiCertCA.crt) and Primary Certificates (your_domain_name.crt).

2. Open a text editor (such as wordpad) and paste the entire body of each certificate into one text file in the following order:

   1. The Primary Certificate - your_domain_name.crt
   2. The Intermediate Certificate - DigiCertCA.crt

   Make sure to include the beginning and end tags on each certificate. The result should look like this:

   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Primary SSL certificate: your_domain_name.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Intermediate certificate: DigiCertCA.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----

   Save the combined file as your_domain_name.pem. The .pem file is now ready to use.

Get Private Key From Certificate

Creating a .pem with the Private Key and Entire Trust Chain

1. Log into your DigiCert Management Console and download your Intermediate (DigiCertCA.crt) and Primary Certificates (your_domain_name.crt).

2. Open a text editor (such as wordpad) and paste the entire body of each certificate into one text file in the following order:

   1. The Private Key - your_domain_name.key
   2. The Primary Certificate - your_domain_name.crt
   3. The Intermediate Certificate - DigiCertCA.crt
   4. The Root Certificate - TrustedRoot.crt

   Make sure to include the beginning and end tags on each certificate. The result should look like this:

   -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
   (Your Private Key: your_domain_name.key)
   -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Primary SSL certificate: your_domain_name.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Intermediate certificate: DigiCertCA.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   (Your Root certificate: TrustedRoot.crt)
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----

   Save the combined file as your_domain_name.pem. The .pem file is now ready to use.