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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesGenerate a Linux certificate signing request (CSR) with OpenSSL, verify it locally, and send only the .csr file to your certificate authority (CA). A typical one-off command is openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048; for production requests, include every hostname and IP address in the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) extension and inspect the finished request before submission.
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What a CSR is—and what it is not
A certificate signing request is a PKCS#10 data structure that asks a CA to issue an SSL/TLS certificate. It contains:
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- The requested subject (distinguished-name fields such as country, organization and common name).
- The public key that will appear in the eventual certificate.
- Requested certificate extensions, especially Subject Alternative Name (SAN) entries.
- A digital signature proving that the requester possesses the corresponding private key.
A CSR is not the issued certificate and it does not contain the private key. The private key stays on the Linux host and must never be uploaded to a CA, pasted into a ticket or sent to a hosting provider unless a documented key-transfer procedure specifically requires it.
OpenSSL’s req command creates and inspects CSRs. The OpenSSL manual describes it as the “PKCS#10 certificate request and certificate generating command.”
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Prepare Linux and protect the key material
Install and identify OpenSSL
Install the OpenSSL package provided by your Linux distribution, then check the installed release and build options:
openssl version -aOption names and defaults can differ between OpenSSL releases. If a CA gives you an exact key algorithm, signature, subject or extension requirement, follow that requirement over a generic example.
Use a private working directory
Run the commands as the account that will own the key, or as an administrator when the service account requires it. Start with a restrictive umask so newly created files are not readable by other users:
umask 077
mkdir -p ~/certificate-request
cd ~/certificate-requestThe private key (for example, example.com.key) should remain confidential and should be backed up through your normal protected-secret process. The CSR (for example, example.com.csr) is normally safe to send to the CA because it contains only the public key and request data.
Choose the CSR method that fits the request
| Method | Best for | Important trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive command | A one-off request where an administrator can answer prompts | Easy to use, but manual entry can introduce spelling or SAN omissions |
Noninteractive -subj and -addext |
Scripts, automation and a single, short SAN list | Repeat the entire command carefully; shell history may expose its contents |
| Configuration file | Several names, IP addresses, repeatable builds or change-controlled operations | Requires a correctly selected extension section |
| New private key | Initial issuance, key rotation or any suspected exposure of the old key | Services and deployment systems must receive the new key securely |
| Existing private key | Renewal or reissue when organizational policy explicitly permits key reuse | Reuses the risk and lifetime history of that key |
Option A: create a new key and CSR interactively
For a new 2048-bit RSA key and an interactive CSR, run:
umask 077
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048
-keyout example.com.key
-out example.com.csr-newkey rsa:2048 generates a new RSA key and implies creation of a new request. OpenSSL then asks for distinguished-name values. Enter the values required by your CA; do not invent organization details merely to fill an optional field.
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Some versions and option combinations encrypt the newly written key by prompting for a passphrase. Encryption protects the key if the file is copied or stolen, but an unattended service must then obtain the passphrase during startup. Store the passphrase separately from the key and test the service’s startup process before a maintenance window.
Ubuntu’s server documentation also shows the equivalent two-stage pattern:
openssl genrsa -des3 -out server.key 2048
openssl req -new -key server.key -out server.csrThe two-stage form is useful when you want to generate, protect and inventory the key before creating the CSR. Both approaches produce a key and a request; the CA receives only the request.
What to enter at the prompts
- Common Name (CN): use the primary name only; modern certificate hostname validation relies on SAN.
- Subject Alternative Names: the interactive default prompts do not reliably create SANs, so use
-addextor a configuration file when names matter. - Organization and locality fields: enter values that match the CA’s validation and policy requirements.
- Challenge password: leave it empty unless your CA explicitly requires it; it is not a replacement for protecting the private key.
Option B: create a CSR from an existing private key
For a renewal or reissue where key reuse is allowed, create a new request from the existing key:
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openssl req -new
-key example.com.key
-out example.com.csrReuse the key only when your security policy and the CA’s requirements permit it. Generate a new key instead if the old key may have been exposed, if the host was compromised, or if policy requires periodic key rotation. A new CSR alone does not rotate a key.
Include every hostname and IP address in SAN
List every DNS name and IP address that clients will use. Typical entries might include example.com, www.example.com, an internal service name approved by policy, or an IP address. A certificate for only example.com does not automatically cover www.example.com.
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Wildcards cover one DNS label only. For example, *.example.com can match www.example.com, but not api.eu.example.com and not the bare example.com. Use a wildcard only when the CA and your security policy allow it.
One-line noninteractive command
For a single request with a short, known SAN list:
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes
-keyout example.com.key
-out example.com.csr
-subj "/C=US/ST=California/L=San Francisco/O=Example Inc/CN=example.com"
-addext "subjectAltName = DNS:example.com,DNS:www.example.com"-subj supplies the distinguished name without prompts. -addext requests the SAN extension directly. Add IP addresses with the IP: form, for example IP:203.0.113.10.
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-nodes (called -noenc in newer OpenSSL documentation) leaves the generated private key unencrypted. That is appropriate only when an unattended service must read the key at boot. Compensate with restrictive file permissions, protected host access and a secrets-management process. Do not choose it simply to avoid entering a passphrase on an interactive terminal.
Because command lines can be saved in shell history or process-audit logs, avoid placing sensitive passphrases in the command. The subject and SAN are not private, but your key and any passphrase are.
Use a configuration file for repeatable or larger requests
A configuration file is easier to review when a certificate covers several names or addresses. Create csr.conf with mode 0600:
[req]
distinguished_name = req_distinguished_name
req_extensions = req_ext
prompt = no
[req_distinguished_name]
C = US
ST = California
L = San Francisco
O = Example Inc
CN = example.com
[req_ext]
subjectAltName = @alt_names
[alt_names]
DNS.1 = example.com
DNS.2 = www.example.com
IP.1 = 203.0.113.10Then generate the key and request:
umask 077
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048
-keyout example.com.key
-out example.com.csr
-config csr.confThe req command supports -config, -reqexts, -extensions and -addext. The exact extension-section name and whether a CA honors requested extensions can vary by OpenSSL release and CA policy. Always inspect the generated CSR; a configuration file is not proof that the CA will copy every requested extension into the issued certificate.
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Keep configuration changes reviewable
- Use one numbered
DNS.orIP.entry per value. - Remove names that should no longer appear on the certificate rather than leaving old aliases “just in case.”
- Protect the file if it contains internal names or organizational details, even though it does not contain the private key.
- Record which SAN list was approved so the CSR can be compared with the certificate later.
Key algorithm, size and encryption decisions
The examples use a 2048-bit RSA key because it is widely supported, not because every CA or platform requires it. OpenSSL can generate other key types, but the issuing CA, operating system, web server and organizational policy determine what is accepted. Confirm the permitted algorithm, minimum size, signature algorithm and encoding before generating a production request.
Choose encrypted or unencrypted private-key storage based on the deployment model:
- Encrypted key: safer if the file is copied, but an administrator or a startup secret mechanism must unlock it.
- Unencrypted key: convenient for unattended startup, but compromise of the file can immediately enable impersonation until the certificate is revoked or expires.
Whichever option you choose, restrict ownership and permissions. Do not make a key world-readable to solve a service permission error; instead, place the service account in the correct protected group or adjust the directory and file ownership.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the CSR before sending it
Inspect the request and verify its signature in one command:
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- The subject fields are spelled and capitalized as required.
- Every required DNS name appears under X509v3 Subject Alternative Name.
- Every required IP address is present as an
IP Addressentry, not as a DNS name. - The public-key algorithm and size meet the CA and platform policy.
- The request signature verifies successfully.
Useful focused inspections are:
openssl req -in example.com.csr -noout -subject
openssl req -in example.com.csr -noout -pubkeyA PEM-encoded CSR normally begins with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- and ends with the matching -----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- line. If the file is binary DER instead, use the appropriate encoding option when inspecting or converting it; do not assume that changing the filename extension changes the format.
Submit the right file to the CA
- Open the CA’s current ordering or renewal workflow and confirm its required key type, SAN format and validation method.
- Upload or paste the contents of
example.com.csrexactly as generated. - Complete domain or organization validation requested by the CA.
- Store the issued certificate and chain separately from
example.com.key. - Install the certificate and chain on the service that owns the private key, then test the complete TLS connection.
Never send example.com.key. If a provider asks for a private key, stop and verify that you are using the provider’s documented CSR-based workflow; giving a private key to a third party changes the trust model and may violate policy.
Troubleshoot common CSR failures
“Unable to load config info” or missing prompts
The command may be unable to find the distribution’s OpenSSL configuration. Specify the intended configuration explicitly with -config /path/to/openssl.cnf, or avoid prompts by supplying -subj and -addext. Use the path installed by your distribution rather than copying a configuration from an unrelated host.
SAN is absent from the request
Inspect the CSR rather than the command you intended to run. If SAN is missing, the extension section was not selected or the option was not supported as expected. Regenerate the CSR with a verified -addext argument or a configuration that sets req_extensions and the correct section. Adding SAN to a later certificate cannot repair a CSR that omitted it; create a new request.
The hostname is wrong or incomplete
Compare the requested names with the actual URLs, load-balancer names and service aliases clients use. Regenerate the CSR with the complete SAN list. Remember that a wildcard matches only one label and that a bare domain and its www hostname are separate names.
Permission denied while writing the key or CSR
Use a directory owned by the account running OpenSSL, keep umask 077, and check parent-directory permissions. Do not fix the problem with chmod 777 or a world-readable key. If a service needs access later, grant that service the minimum required read permission after the key is created.
The CA rejects the CSR
Compare the request with the CA’s current issuance rules: key type and size, subject formatting, SAN syntax, prohibited internal names, wildcard policy and signature algorithm. A locally valid CSR can still be unacceptable under a CA’s policy. Correct the input and generate a new CSR; do not edit the CSR text manually.
The service cannot start after installation
Check that the certificate’s public key matches the private key, that the service account can read the key, and that the certificate chain is installed in the format the server expects. If the key is encrypted, confirm that the service has a supported way to obtain its passphrase at startup.
A practical pre-submission checklist
- OpenSSL:
openssl version -arecorded for troubleshooting. - Directory: working directory is administrator- or service-owned with restrictive permissions.
- Private key: stored securely, backed up where appropriate, and never included in the CA submission.
- Subject: organization and other fields match the CA’s requirements.
- SAN: every required DNS name and IP address is present and correctly typed.
- Verification:
openssl req -in example.com.csr -noout -text -verifysucceeds. - Policy: key algorithm, size, encryption choice and wildcard use are approved.
- Delivery: only the CSR is uploaded or pasted into the CA workflow.
When to regenerate instead of reuse
Generate a fresh key and CSR when the previous private key may have been exposed, when an administrator or vendor who had access is no longer trusted, when policy mandates rotation, or when the certificate needs a materially different SAN set. Reusing a key can simplify renewal, but it does not remove the need to verify the new CSR and it does not correct a compromised key.
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