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+
+=pod
+
+=head1 NAME
+
+req - PKCS#10 certificate request and certificate generating utility.
+
+=head1 SYNOPSIS
+
+B<openssl> B<req>
+[B<-inform PEM|DER>]
+[B<-outform PEM|DER>]
+[B<-in filename>]
+[B<-passin arg>]
+[B<-out filename>]
+[B<-passout arg>]
+[B<-text>]
+[B<-pubkey>]
+[B<-noout>]
+[B<-verify>]
+[B<-modulus>]
+[B<-new>]
+[B<-rand file(s)>]
+[B<-newkey rsa:bits>]
+[B<-newkey dsa:file>]
+[B<-nodes>]
+[B<-key filename>]
+[B<-keyform PEM|DER>]
+[B<-keyout filename>]
+[B<-[md5|sha1|md2|mdc2]>]
+[B<-config filename>]
+[B<-subj arg>]
+[B<-multivalue-rdn>]
+[B<-x509>]
+[B<-days n>]
+[B<-set_serial n>]
+[B<-asn1-kludge>]
+[B<-newhdr>]
+[B<-extensions section>]
+[B<-reqexts section>]
+[B<-utf8>]
+[B<-nameopt>]
+[B<-batch>]
+[B<-verbose>]
+[B<-engine id>]
+
+=head1 DESCRIPTION
+
+The B<req> command primarily creates and processes certificate requests
+in PKCS#10 format. It can additionally create self signed certificates
+for use as root CAs for example.
+
+=head1 COMMAND OPTIONS
+
+=over 4
+
+=item B<-inform DER|PEM>
+
+This specifies the input format. The B<DER> option uses an ASN1 DER encoded
+form compatible with the PKCS#10. The B<PEM> form is the default format: it
+consists of the B<DER> format base64 encoded with additional header and
+footer lines.
+
+=item B<-outform DER|PEM>
+
+This specifies the output format, the options have the same meaning as the
+B<-inform> option.
+
+=item B<-in filename>
+
+This specifies the input filename to read a request from or standard input
+if this option is not specified. A request is only read if the creation
+options (B<-new> and B<-newkey>) are not specified.
+
+=item B<-passin arg>
+
+the input file password source. For more information about the format of B<arg>
+see the B<PASS PHRASE ARGUMENTS> section in L<openssl(1)|openssl(1)>.
+
+=item B<-out filename>
+
+This specifies the output filename to write to or standard output by
+default.
+
+=item B<-passout arg>
+
+the output file password source. For more information about the format of B<arg>
+see the B<PASS PHRASE ARGUMENTS> section in L<openssl(1)|openssl(1)>.
+
+=item B<-text>
+
+prints out the certificate request in text form.
+
+=item B<-pubkey>
+
+outputs the public key.
+
+=item B<-noout>
+
+this option prevents output of the encoded version of the request.
+
+=item B<-modulus>
+
+this option prints out the value of the modulus of the public key
+contained in the request.
+
+=item B<-verify>
+
+verifies the signature on the request.
+
+=item B<-new>
+
+this option generates a new certificate request. It will prompt
+the user for the relevant field values. The actual fields
+prompted for and their maximum and minimum sizes are specified
+in the configuration file and any requested extensions.
+
+If the B<-key> option is not used it will generate a new RSA private
+key using information specified in the configuration file.
+
+=item B<-rand file(s)>
+
+a file or files containing random data used to seed the random number
+generator, or an EGD socket (see L<RAND_egd(3)|RAND_egd(3)>).
+Multiple files can be specified separated by a OS-dependent character.
+The separator is B<;> for MS-Windows, B<,> for OpenVMS, and B<:> for
+all others.
+
+=item B<-newkey arg>
+
+this option creates a new certificate request and a new private
+key. The argument takes one of two forms. B<rsa:nbits>, where
+B<nbits> is the number of bits, generates an RSA key B<nbits>
+in size. B<dsa:filename> generates a DSA key using the parameters
+in the file B<filename>.
+
+=item B<-key filename>
+
+This specifies the file to read the private key from. It also
+accepts PKCS#8 format private keys for PEM format files.
+
+=item B<-keyform PEM|DER>
+
+the format of the private key file specified in the B<-key>
+argument. PEM is the default.
+
+=item B<-keyout filename>
+
+this gives the filename to write the newly created private key to.
+If this option is not specified then the filename present in the
+configuration file is used.
+
+=item B<-nodes>
+
+if this option is specified then if a private key is created it
+will not be encrypted.
+
+=item B<-[md5|sha1|md2|mdc2]>
+
+this specifies the message digest to sign the request with. This
+overrides the digest algorithm specified in the configuration file.
+This option is ignored for DSA requests: they always use SHA1.
+
+=item B<-config filename>
+
+this allows an alternative configuration file to be specified,
+this overrides the compile time filename or any specified in
+the B<OPENSSL_CONF> environment variable.
+
+=item B<-subj arg>
+
+sets subject name for new request or supersedes the subject name
+when processing a request.
+The arg must be formatted as I</type0=value0/type1=value1/type2=...>,
+characters may be escaped by \ (backslash), no spaces are skipped.
+
+=item B<-multivalue-rdn>
+
+this option causes the -subj argument to be interpreted with full
+support for multivalued RDNs. Example:
+
+I</DC=org/DC=OpenSSL/DC=users/UID=123456+CN=John Doe>
+
+If -multi-rdn is not used then the UID value is I<123456+CN=John Doe>.
+
+=item B<-x509>
+
+this option outputs a self signed certificate instead of a certificate
+request. This is typically used to generate a test certificate or
+a self signed root CA. The extensions added to the certificate
+(if any) are specified in the configuration file. Unless specified
+using the B<set_serial> option B<0> will be used for the serial
+number.
+
+=item B<-days n>
+
+when the B<-x509> option is being used this specifies the number of
+days to certify the certificate for. The default is 30 days.
+
+=item B<-set_serial n>
+
+serial number to use when outputting a self signed certificate. This
+may be specified as a decimal value or a hex value if preceded by B<0x>.
+It is possible to use negative serial numbers but this is not recommended.
+
+=item B<-extensions section>
+
+=item B<-reqexts section>
+
+these options specify alternative sections to include certificate
+extensions (if the B<-x509> option is present) or certificate
+request extensions. This allows several different sections to
+be used in the same configuration file to specify requests for
+a variety of purposes.
+
+=item B<-utf8>
+
+this option causes field values to be interpreted as UTF8 strings, by
+default they are interpreted as ASCII. This means that the field
+values, whether prompted from a terminal or obtained from a
+configuration file, must be valid UTF8 strings.
+
+=item B<-nameopt option>
+
+option which determines how the subject or issuer names are displayed. The
+B<option> argument can be a single option or multiple options separated by
+commas. Alternatively the B<-nameopt> switch may be used more than once to
+set multiple options. See the L<x509(1)|x509(1)> manual page for details.
+
+=item B<-asn1-kludge>
+
+by default the B<req> command outputs certificate requests containing
+no attributes in the correct PKCS#10 format. However certain CAs will only
+accept requests containing no attributes in an invalid form: this
+option produces this invalid format.
+
+More precisely the B<Attributes> in a PKCS#10 certificate request
+are defined as a B<SET OF Attribute>. They are B<not OPTIONAL> so
+if no attributes are present then they should be encoded as an
+empty B<SET OF>. The invalid form does not include the empty
+B<SET OF> whereas the correct form does.
+
+It should be noted that very few CAs still require the use of this option.
+
+=item B<-newhdr>
+
+Adds the word B<NEW> to the PEM file header and footer lines on the outputed
+request. Some software (Netscape certificate server) and some CAs need this.
+
+=item B<-batch>
+
+non-interactive mode.
+
+=item B<-verbose>
+
+print extra details about the operations being performed.
+
+=item B<-engine id>
+
+specifying an engine (by it's unique B<id> string) will cause B<req>
+to attempt to obtain a functional reference to the specified engine,
+thus initialising it if needed. The engine will then be set as the default
+for all available algorithms.
+
+=back
+
+=head1 CONFIGURATION FILE FORMAT
+
+The configuration options are specified in the B<req> section of
+the configuration file. As with all configuration files if no
+value is specified in the specific section (i.e. B<req>) then
+the initial unnamed or B<default> section is searched too.
+
+The options available are described in detail below.
+
+=over 4
+
+=item B<input_password output_password>
+
+The passwords for the input private key file (if present) and
+the output private key file (if one will be created). The
+command line options B<passin> and B<passout> override the
+configuration file values.
+
+=item B<default_bits>
+
+This specifies the default key size in bits. If not specified then
+512 is used. It is used if the B<-new> option is used. It can be
+overridden by using the B<-newkey> option.
+
+=item B<default_keyfile>
+
+This is the default filename to write a private key to. If not
+specified the key is written to standard output. This can be
+overridden by the B<-keyout> option.
+
+=item B<oid_file>
+
+This specifies a file containing additional B<OBJECT IDENTIFIERS>.
+Each line of the file should consist of the numerical form of the
+object identifier followed by white space then the short name followed
+by white space and finally the long name.
+
+=item B<oid_section>
+
+This specifies a section in the configuration file containing extra
+object identifiers. Each line should consist of the short name of the
+object identifier followed by B<=> and the numerical form. The short
+and long names are the same when this option is used.
+
+=item B<RANDFILE>
+
+This specifies a filename in which random number seed information is
+placed and read from, or an EGD socket (see L<RAND_egd(3)|RAND_egd(3)>).
+It is used for private key generation.
+
+=item B<encrypt_key>
+
+If this is set to B<no> then if a private key is generated it is
+B<not> encrypted. This is equivalent to the B<-nodes> command line
+option. For compatibility B<encrypt_rsa_key> is an equivalent option.
+
+=item B<default_md>
+
+This option specifies the digest algorithm to use. Possible values
+include B<md5 sha1 mdc2>. If not present then MD5 is used. This
+option can be overridden on the command line.
+
+=item B<string_mask>
+
+This option masks out the use of certain string types in certain
+fields. Most users will not need to change this option.
+
+It can be set to several values B<default> which is also the default
+option uses PrintableStrings, T61Strings and BMPStrings if the
+B<pkix> value is used then only PrintableStrings and BMPStrings will
+be used. This follows the PKIX recommendation in RFC2459. If the
+B<utf8only> option is used then only UTF8Strings will be used: this
+is the PKIX recommendation in RFC2459 after 2003. Finally the B<nombstr>
+option just uses PrintableStrings and T61Strings: certain software has
+problems with BMPStrings and UTF8Strings: in particular Netscape.
+
+=item B<req_extensions>
+
+this specifies the configuration file section containing a list of
+extensions to add to the certificate request. It can be overridden
+by the B<-reqexts> command line switch.
+
+=item B<x509_extensions>
+
+this specifies the configuration file section containing a list of
+extensions to add to certificate generated when the B<-x509> switch
+is used. It can be overridden by the B<-extensions> command line switch.
+
+=item B<prompt>
+
+if set to the value B<no> this disables prompting of certificate fields
+and just takes values from the config file directly. It also changes the
+expected format of the B<distinguished_name> and B<attributes> sections.
+
+=item B<utf8>
+
+if set to the value B<yes> then field values to be interpreted as UTF8
+strings, by default they are interpreted as ASCII. This means that
+the field values, whether prompted from a terminal or obtained from a
+configuration file, must be valid UTF8 strings.
+
+=item B<attributes>
+
+this specifies the section containing any request attributes: its format
+is the same as B<distinguished_name>. Typically these may contain the
+challengePassword or unstructuredName types. They are currently ignored
+by OpenSSL's request signing utilities but some CAs might want them.
+
+=item B<distinguished_name>
+
+This specifies the section containing the distinguished name fields to
+prompt for when generating a certificate or certificate request. The format
+is described in the next section.
+
+=back
+
+=head1 DISTINGUISHED NAME AND ATTRIBUTE SECTION FORMAT
+
+There are two separate formats for the distinguished name and attribute
+sections. If the B<prompt> option is set to B<no> then these sections
+just consist of field names and values: for example,
+
+ CN=My Name
+ OU=My Organization
+ emailAddress=someone@somewhere.org
+
+This allows external programs (e.g. GUI based) to generate a template file
+with all the field names and values and just pass it to B<req>. An example
+of this kind of configuration file is contained in the B<EXAMPLES> section.
+
+Alternatively if the B<prompt> option is absent or not set to B<no> then the
+file contains field prompting information. It consists of lines of the form:
+
+ fieldName="prompt"
+ fieldName_default="default field value"
+ fieldName_min= 2
+ fieldName_max= 4
+
+"fieldName" is the field name being used, for example commonName (or CN).
+The "prompt" string is used to ask the user to enter the relevant
+details. If the user enters nothing then the default value is used if no
+default value is present then the field is omitted. A field can
+still be omitted if a default value is present if the user just
+enters the '.' character.
+
+The number of characters entered must be between the fieldName_min and
+fieldName_max limits: there may be additional restrictions based
+on the field being used (for example countryName can only ever be
+two characters long and must fit in a PrintableString).
+
+Some fields (such as organizationName) can be used more than once
+in a DN. This presents a problem because configuration files will
+not recognize the same name occurring twice. To avoid this problem
+if the fieldName contains some characters followed by a full stop
+they will be ignored. So for example a second organizationName can
+be input by calling it "1.organizationName".
+
+The actual permitted field names are any object identifier short or
+long names. These are compiled into OpenSSL and include the usual
+values such as commonName, countryName, localityName, organizationName,
+organizationUnitName, stateOrProvinceName. Additionally emailAddress
+is include as well as name, surname, givenName initials and dnQualifier.
+
+Additional object identifiers can be defined with the B<oid_file> or
+B<oid_section> options in the configuration file. Any additional fields
+will be treated as though they were a DirectoryString.
+
+
+=head1 EXAMPLES
+
+Examine and verify certificate request:
+
+ openssl req -in req.pem -text -verify -noout
+
+Create a private key and then generate a certificate request from it:
+
+ openssl genrsa -out key.pem 1024
+ openssl req -new -key key.pem -out req.pem
+
+The same but just using req:
+
+ openssl req -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout key.pem -out req.pem
+
+Generate a self signed root certificate:
+
+ openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout key.pem -out req.pem
+
+Example of a file pointed to by the B<oid_file> option:
+
+ 1.2.3.4 shortName A longer Name
+ 1.2.3.6 otherName Other longer Name
+
+Example of a section pointed to by B<oid_section> making use of variable
+expansion:
+
+ testoid1=1.2.3.5
+ testoid2=${testoid1}.6
+
+Sample configuration file prompting for field values:
+
+ [ req ]
+ default_bits = 1024
+ default_keyfile = privkey.pem
+ distinguished_name = req_distinguished_name
+ attributes = req_attributes
+ x509_extensions = v3_ca
+
+ dirstring_type = nobmp
+
+ [ req_distinguished_name ]
+ countryName = Country Name (2 letter code)
+ countryName_default = AU
+ countryName_min = 2
+ countryName_max = 2
+
+ localityName = Locality Name (eg, city)
+
+ organizationalUnitName = Organizational Unit Name (eg, section)
+
+ commonName = Common Name (eg, YOUR name)
+ commonName_max = 64
+
+ emailAddress = Email Address
+ emailAddress_max = 40
+
+ [ req_attributes ]
+ challengePassword = A challenge password
+ challengePassword_min = 4
+ challengePassword_max = 20
+
+ [ v3_ca ]
+
+ subjectKeyIdentifier=hash
+ authorityKeyIdentifier=keyid:always,issuer:always
+ basicConstraints = CA:true
+
+Sample configuration containing all field values:
+
+
+ RANDFILE = $ENV::HOME/.rnd
+
+ [ req ]
+ default_bits = 1024
+ default_keyfile = keyfile.pem
+ distinguished_name = req_distinguished_name
+ attributes = req_attributes
+ prompt = no
+ output_password = mypass
+
+ [ req_distinguished_name ]
+ C = GB
+ ST = Test State or Province
+ L = Test Locality
+ O = Organization Name
+ OU = Organizational Unit Name
+ CN = Common Name
+ emailAddress = test@email.address
+
+ [ req_attributes ]
+ challengePassword = A challenge password
+
+
+=head1 NOTES
+
+The header and footer lines in the B<PEM> format are normally:
+
+ -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
+ -----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
+
+some software (some versions of Netscape certificate server) instead needs:
+
+ -----BEGIN NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
+ -----END NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
+
+which is produced with the B<-newhdr> option but is otherwise compatible.
+Either form is accepted transparently on input.
+
+The certificate requests generated by B<Xenroll> with MSIE have extensions
+added. It includes the B<keyUsage> extension which determines the type of
+key (signature only or general purpose) and any additional OIDs entered
+by the script in an extendedKeyUsage extension.
+
+=head1 DIAGNOSTICS
+
+The following messages are frequently asked about:
+
+ Using configuration from /some/path/openssl.cnf
+ Unable to load config info
+
+This is followed some time later by...
+
+ unable to find 'distinguished_name' in config
+ problems making Certificate Request
+
+The first error message is the clue: it can't find the configuration
+file! Certain operations (like examining a certificate request) don't
+need a configuration file so its use isn't enforced. Generation of
+certificates or requests however does need a configuration file. This
+could be regarded as a bug.
+
+Another puzzling message is this:
+
+ Attributes:
+ a0:00
+
+this is displayed when no attributes are present and the request includes
+the correct empty B<SET OF> structure (the DER encoding of which is 0xa0
+0x00). If you just see:
+
+ Attributes:
+
+then the B<SET OF> is missing and the encoding is technically invalid (but
+it is tolerated). See the description of the command line option B<-asn1-kludge>
+for more information.
+
+=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
+
+The variable B<OPENSSL_CONF> if defined allows an alternative configuration
+file location to be specified, it will be overridden by the B<-config> command
+line switch if it is present. For compatibility reasons the B<SSLEAY_CONF>
+environment variable serves the same purpose but its use is discouraged.
+
+=head1 BUGS
+
+OpenSSL's handling of T61Strings (aka TeletexStrings) is broken: it effectively
+treats them as ISO-8859-1 (Latin 1), Netscape and MSIE have similar behaviour.
+This can cause problems if you need characters that aren't available in
+PrintableStrings and you don't want to or can't use BMPStrings.
+
+As a consequence of the T61String handling the only correct way to represent
+accented characters in OpenSSL is to use a BMPString: unfortunately Netscape
+currently chokes on these. If you have to use accented characters with Netscape
+and MSIE then you currently need to use the invalid T61String form.
+
+The current prompting is not very friendly. It doesn't allow you to confirm what
+you've just entered. Other things like extensions in certificate requests are
+statically defined in the configuration file. Some of these: like an email
+address in subjectAltName should be input by the user.
+
+=head1 SEE ALSO
+
+L<x509(1)|x509(1)>, L<ca(1)|ca(1)>, L<genrsa(1)|genrsa(1)>,
+L<gendsa(1)|gendsa(1)>, L<config(5)|config(5)>
+
+=cut