How to generate a private key using OpenSSL?

You can generate a private key using OpenSSL from the command line. Here's how:

Generating a Private Key with OpenSSL

This guide explains how to generate a private key using the OpenSSL command-line tool, referencing the provided information.

1. Open the Terminal: Access the terminal or command prompt on your operating system.

2. Navigate to the Desired Directory: Change the current directory to the location where you want to save the generated private key. For example, if you're working within the Aurea List Manager directory (as suggested by the reference, though not strictly required), you would navigate to that folder.

3. Execute the OpenSSL Command: Type the following command into the terminal:

   openssl genrsa -out rsa.private 1024

   • openssl genrsa: This invokes the OpenSSL tool to generate an RSA private key.
   • -out rsa.private: This option specifies the output file name for the private key. In this case, the key will be saved as "rsa.private".
   • 1024: This specifies the key size in bits. 1024 bits is considered weak and not recommended for production use. Important: Current recommendations advise using at least 2048 bits. For enhanced security, consider using 4096 bits.

4. Press Enter: Execute the command. OpenSSL will generate the private key and save it to the specified file.

Example

To generate a 2048-bit RSA private key named mykey.pem in your current directory:

openssl genrsa -out mykey.pem 2048

Key Size Considerations

While the provided reference uses 1024 bits, it's crucial to understand the security implications.

Key Size (bits)	Security Level	Recommendation
1024	Weak	Do not use for new applications.
2048	Acceptable	Minimum recommended for most applications.
4096	Strong	Recommended for high-security applications.

Verification

After generation, you can verify the key with other OpenSSL commands but this is outside the scope of the original question.