From Request to Retrieval: OpenSSL Generate CSR & How to Download SSL Certificate

Securing your website starts with obtaining an SSL/TLS certificate. Two fundamental steps in this process are generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and then, once approved, retrieving your certificate files. Knowing how to use OpenSSL Generate CSR provides a standardized way to create the request, and understanding how to download SSL certificate files from your Certificate Authority (CA) is crucial for completing the acquisition phase.

This guide will walk you through creating a CSR using the powerful OpenSSL tool and explain the typical process for downloading your issued certificate files from a CA like sslrepo.com.

Key Takeaways: CSR Generation and Certificate Download

• CSR Generation: A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) contains your public key and identifying information, generated on your server to request a certificate from a CA.
• OpenSSL: A widely-used command-line tool for generating CSRs, private keys, and managing certificates.
• Private Key: Generated alongside the CSR, the private key must be kept secret on your server and is essential for the SSL/TLS certificate to function.
• CA Validation: After submitting the CSR, the CA validates your information according to the certificate type (DV, OV, EV).
• Certificate Issuance: Upon successful validation, the CA issues your SSL/TLS certificate.
• Download Process: You typically download the issued SSL certificate files (server certificate, intermediate certificates) from your CA’s online portal or account dashboard.
• Importance: Both steps are sequential and necessary: generating the CSR initiates the request, and downloading provides the files needed for installation.

OpenSSL Generate CSR: Creating Your Request

OpenSSL is a robust, open-source toolkit for implementing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. It’s commonly used to generate CSRs. ^^(Reference: OpenSSL Official Website)

Here’s a standard command to generate a CSR and a new private key:

1. Access Your Server’s Command Line: Connect to your server via SSH or open a terminal/command prompt where OpenSSL is installed.
2. Execute the Command: Run the following command, replacing placeholders as needed: openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout yourdomain.key -out yourdomain.csr
   • openssl req: The OpenSSL command for CSR and certificate management.
   • -new: Specifies that you want to generate a new CSR.
   • -newkey rsa:2048: Generates a new 2048-bit RSA private key. 2048 bits is the industry standard minimum key strength.
   • -nodes: (No DES) Prevents encrypting the private key with a passphrase. While less secure if the key file is exposed, it prevents web servers from requiring a password on startup. Omit this if you want passphrase protection.
   • -keyout yourdomain.key: Specifies the filename for your private key (e.g., mydomain_com.key). Protect this file carefully!
   • -out yourdomain.csr: Specifies the filename for your CSR (e.g., mydomain_com.csr).
3. Provide Identifying Information: OpenSSL will prompt you to enter details that will be included in the CSR and potentially displayed in the certificate:
   • Country Name (2 letter code): [e.g., US, GB, DE]
   • State or Province Name (full name): [e.g., California, Ontario, Bavaria]
   • Locality Name (eg, city): [e.g., San Francisco, Toronto, Munich]
   • Organization Name (eg, company): [Your legally registered company name, e.g., My Company Inc.]
   • Organizational Unit Name (eg, section): [Optional: Department, e.g., IT Department, Web Security]
   • Common Name (e.g., server FQDN or YOUR name): Crucial! This must be the exact Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) you want to secure (e.g., www.yourdomain.com or secure.yourdomain.com). For wildcard certificates, use *.yourdomain.com.
   • Email Address: [Your contact email address]
   • A challenge password: [Optional – generally leave blank]
   • An optional company name: [Optional – generally leave blank]
4. CSR and Key Files Generated: Upon completion, you will have two files:
   • yourdomain.key: Your private key. Keep it secure and secret on your server. You’ll need it during installation.
   • yourdomain.csr: Your Certificate Signing Request. Open this file with a text editor and copy the entire content (including the -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- and -----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- lines) to submit to your CA (like sslrepo.com).

The Path to Download SSL Certificate

After you’ve generated your CSR using OpenSSL (or another tool) and submitted it to your chosen Certificate Authority, the following steps typically occur before you can download your certificate:

1. CA Verification: The CA begins the validation process based on the type of certificate you ordered:
   • Domain Validation (DV): Verifies control over the domain name (often via email, DNS record, or file upload). This is usually automated and fast.
   • Organization Validation (OV): Verifies domain control AND the legal existence and details of your organization. This takes longer (typically 1-3 business days).
   • Extended Validation (EV): The most rigorous validation, checking domain control, organization details, legal status, and operational presence according to strict industry guidelines. This takes the longest (typically several days).
2. Certificate Issuance: Once the validation is successfully completed, the CA issues your SSL/TLS certificate.
3. Notification: You will typically receive an email notification from the CA informing you that your certificate has been issued and is ready for download.
4. Accessing Download Files: The process to download SSL certificate files usually involves:
   • Logging In: Sign in to your account dashboard on the CA’s website (e.g., your sslrepo.com account).
   • Navigating to Order: Find the specific certificate order you placed.
   • Download Option: Look for a “Download Certificate” or similar button/link.
   • Selecting Format (if applicable): Some CAs offer different formats tailored to specific server types (e.g., Apache, Nginx, IIS). Choose the one most relevant to your server or select a standard format like PEM if unsure.
   • Downloading the Files: Download the provided certificate files. This usually includes:
     • Your Server Certificate: The main certificate file for your domain (e.g., yourdomain.crt, yourdomain.pem).
     • Intermediate Certificates: One or more certificates that link your server certificate back to the CA’s trusted root certificate (often provided as a separate file or bundled, e.g., ca-bundle.crt, intermediate.pem). It is crucial to install these along with your server certificate.
     • Root Certificate: Sometimes included, but usually already present in browsers/operating systems.

Why Both Steps are Essential

Generating the CSR is the starting pistol – it formally requests the certificate with your specific details and public key. Downloading the certificate is crossing the finish line for the acquisition phase – it provides the actual digital files issued by the CA based on that request. You cannot secure your site without performing both steps correctly.

Next Steps: Installation

Remember, downloading the certificate files is not the final step. Once you have your server certificate (.crt or .pem), your private key (.key), and the intermediate certificate bundle (.crt, .ca-bundle, or .pem), you need to install them on your web server. The installation process varies depending on your server software (Apache, Nginx, IIS, etc.).

Wrapping It Up

Using OpenSSL Generate CSR provides a reliable method to create your certificate request, embedding your public key and identifying information. After the CA validates your request, the crucial next step is to download SSL certificate files – your server certificate and the necessary intermediate certificates – typically through your CA’s online portal. Mastering these two steps puts you firmly on the path to securing your website with HTTPS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q1: Can I generate the CSR on a different machine than my web server?
  Yes, you can generate the CSR and private key on one machine (e.g., your local workstation) and then securely transfer both the private key and the downloaded certificate files to the web server for installation. Ensure the private key remains confidential during transfer and storage.
• Q2: What if I lose my private key after generating the CSR but before downloading the certificate?
  You must generate a new CSR with a new private key. A certificate is cryptographically linked to a specific private key. If the key is lost, the issued certificate is useless. You’ll need to submit the new CSR to the CA (they may need to re-issue the certificate based on the new request).
• Q3: What format will the downloaded certificate files be in?
  Common formats include PEM (.pem, .crt, .cer, .key) which is Base64 encoded ASCII text, and sometimes DER (.der, .cer) which is binary. PKCS#7 (.p7b, .p7c) bundles certificates and intermediates but not the private key. PKCS#12 (.pfx, .p12) can bundle the certificate, intermediates, and the private key into one encrypted file. CAs usually provide PEM format or options suitable for common servers.
• Q4: Where exactly do I download the certificate from?
  You almost always download it from the customer account or dashboard provided by the Certificate Authority where you purchased the certificate (like sslrepo.com). The CA will provide instructions or a clear download link within your order details after issuance.
• Q5: What are intermediate certificates, and why do I need to download/install them?
  Intermediate certificates act as links in a “chain of trust” connecting your server certificate (signed by the intermediate) back to the CA’s trusted root certificate (which is pre-installed in browsers). Browsers need this chain to verify your certificate’s authenticity. Failure to install intermediates will often result in browser trust errors.
• Q6: Does the CSR contain my private key?
  No. The CSR only contains your public key and the identifying information you entered. The private key is generated separately (in the .key file from the OpenSSL command) and must be kept secret on your server. Never share your private key.