If you want to convert your website from HTTP to HTTPS, you need to get a SSL certificate from a valid organization like Verisign or Thawte. You can also generate self signed SSL certificate for testing purpose.

In this article, let us review how to generate private key file (server.key), certificate signing request file (server.csr) and webserver certificate file (server.crt) that can be used on Apache server with mod_ssl.

Key, CSR and CRT File Naming Convention

I typically like to name the files with the domain name of the HTTPS URL that will be using this certificate. This makes it easier to identify and maintain.

• Instead of server.key, I use www.thegeekstuff.com.key
• Instead of server.csr, I use www.thegeekstuff.com.csr
• Instead of server.crt, I use www.thegeekstuff.com.crt

While Encrypting a File with a Password from the Command Line using OpenSSL is very useful in its own right, the real power of the OpenSSL library is its ability to support the use of public key cryptograph for encrypting or validating data in an unattended manner (where the password is not required to encrypt) is done with public keys. The Commands to Run. Next, you'll create a server certificate using OpenSSL. Create the certificate's key. Use the following command to generate the key for the server certificate. Openssl ecparam -out fabrikam.key -name prime256v1 -genkey Create the CSR (Certificate Signing Request) The CSR is a public key that is given to a CA when requesting a certificate. Create a new key. Openssl genpkey -algorithm RSA -pkeyopt rsakeygenbits:2048 -out store.scriptech.io.key.pem. Create a new CSR. Openssl req -new -sha256 -key store.scriptech.io.key.pem -config /etc/ssl/openssl.cnf -out store.scriptech.io.csr Verify the CSR. To view the contents of your new CSR, use the following command. Yet Another Openssl GUI: Qt base openssl GUI to create CSR, certificates, keys (RSA / DSA / EC), P12 etc. Current version: 1.1.2 using openSSL 1.1.1g. This project aims to allow creating certificates / keys in a quick and easy way. Features: Single executable with no dependencies (openssl.

1. Generate Private Key on the Server Running Apache + mod_ssl

First, generate a private key on the Linux server that runs Apache webserver using openssl command as shown below.

The generated private key looks like the following.

2. Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

Using the key generate above, you should generate a certificate request file (csr) using openssl as shown below.

3. Generate a Self-Signed SSL Certificate

For testing purpose, you can generate a self-signed SSL certificate that is valid for 1 year using openssl command as shown below.

You can use this method to generate Apache SSL Key, CSR and CRT file in most of the Linux, Unix systems including Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora and Red Hat.

4. Get a Valid Trial SSL Certificate (Optional)

Instead of signing it youself, you can also generate a valid trial SSL certificate from thawte. i.e Before spending the money on purchasing a certificate, you can also get a valid fully functional 21 day trial SSL certificates from Thawte. Once this valid certificate works, you can either decide to purchase it from Thawte or any other SSL signing organization.

This step is optional and not really required. For testing purpose, you can always use the self-signed certificate that was generated from the above step.

Go to Thwate trial certificate request page and do the following:

• Select “SSL Web Server Certificate (All servers)” under the “select your trial certificate”.
• Do not check the PKCS #7 check-box under the “configure certificate”
• Copy/Paste the *.csr file that you generate above in the textbox under “certificate signing request (CSR)”
• Click on next at the bottom, which will give you a 21-day free trial certificate.

Copy/Paste the trial certificate to the www.thegeekstuff.com.crt file as shown below.

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