SSL Certificates

Generating a CSR for Apache + Raven

Follow these instructions to generate a CSR for your Web site.

Note: The Certificate Signing Request (CSR) instructions are followed by key pair backup instructions.

1. Enter Server Name (Common Name).

2. Select size of encryption key (1024 recommended).
   
   *Note: The encryption key size (512 bit, 1024 bit) has nothing to do with the actual session key (128 bit, 40 bit).

3. Enter pass phrase to encrypt key.
   
   Warning: If you lose the passphrase, you must purchase another certificate.

   See the certificate replacement policy at the bottom of these instructions.
   
   

4. Choose the server to request a certificate for:
   
Version 1.5.1 select NO to send the CSR to us
Version 1.5 select YES to send the CSR to us

Note: If you select no, a required field will be missing and the CSR will be invalid.

Version 1.5x enter the same pass phrase entered generating the private key above.



5. Enter the information to be displayed in the certificate.
   

   Distinguished Name Field	Explanation	Example
   Country Name	The two-letter ISO abbreviation for your country.	US = United States
   State or Province Name	The state or province where your organization is located. Can not be abbreviated.	Georgia
   City or Locality	The city where your organization is located.	Atlanta
   Organization Name	The exact legal name of your organization. Do not abbreviate.	GeoTrust Inc.
   Organizational Unit	Optional for additional organizational information.	Marketing
   Common Name (Server Host Name)	The fully qualified domain name for your web server. You will get a certificate name check warning if this is not an exact match.	If you intend to secure the URL https://secure.geotrust.com, then your CSR's server hostname must be secure.geotrust.com
   Server Admin.'s email address	Your email address	abc@geotrust.com

6. Send the CSR to your email address or display the CSR on your console.

7. Exit RavenCTL
   
   
8. While waiting for your certificate, you can use the self-signed certificate generated above.
   
   **** Note: If you would like to verify the contents of the CSR, use the following command: $ openssl req -noout -text -in server.csr

8. Create a backup copy of the private key.

Backup the servername.key file from the raven/module/pki/keys directory to a secure location and remember the PEM passphrase (step 3).

**** Note: To view the contents of the private key, use the following command: $ openssl rsa -noout -text -in servername.key

10. Submit your CSR by pasting the CSR file. You will be asked to complete the agreement and the enrollment form as well.

See Also

• Q104197: SSL Certificates: Generating a CSR