Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

Apache + Raven

Follow these instructions to generate a CSR for your Web site. When you
have completed this process, click the “close” button below to close this
window and continue to the next step.

Note: The CertificateSigning 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:

    5. Version 1.5.1 select NO to send the CSR to Verisign
    Version 1.5 select YES to send the CSR to Verisign

      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

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

  2. Exit RavenCTL

  3. While waiting for
    your certificate from GeoTrust, 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

  1. 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

  1. Submit
    your CSR to GeoTrust by clicking on <Continue>,
    you will be asked to complete the agreement and the enrollment form
    as well.