The typical process for creating an SSL certificate is as follows:
# openssl genrsa -des3 -out www.key 2048
Note: When creating the key, you can avoid entering the initial passphrase altogether using:
# openssl genrsa -out www.key 2048
At this point it is asking for a PASS PHRASE (which I will describe how to remove):
Enter pass phrase for www.key:
# openssl req -new -key www.key -out www.csr
Next, you will typically send the www.csr file to your registrar. In turn, your registrar will provide you with the .crt (certificate) file.
From a security standpoint utilizing a passphrase, is a good thing, but from a practical standpoint not very useful.
For instance, what happens when your server reboots/crashes at 3am? Or better, what happens in 6 months when you reboot your machine, and you don’t remember the password? Well, one thing is for sure, your web server will not be online.
I suggest removal of the passphrase, you can follow the process below:
Always backup the original key first (just in case)!
# cp www.key www.key.orig
Then unencrypt the key with openssl. You’ll need the passphrase for the decryption process:
# openssl rsa -in www.key -out new.key
Now copy the new.key to the www.key file and you’re done. Next time you restart the web server, it should not prompt you for the passphrase.
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Thank you for sharing this. This is exactly what I needed, and you are dead-on correct about passphrases in ssl keys not being very practical.
thanks man, exactly what i needed
Thanks! this is essential for all services to start in a remote server!
Thank You!!! Gentlemen, it works!
I can remove passphrase and not need renew the SSL cert now.
Thank very much.
Thanks a lot, it worked perfect 🙂
Thanks! I was able to remove the passphrase successfully.
I was prompted for a pwd for every httpd restart.
Thanks! I accidentally (out of habit from working with a single site over the past few years) added the requirement for a passphrase to a client’s web server. They weren’t too happy. Using your advice I was able to remove the passphrase and now everyone is back on track! Thanks a ton!
thank you so much, this is exactly what I am looking for
Thank you for your help our Apache server is running again.
Wow, you are a life saver!
hi,
unable to start httpd service bcz i dont know the passpharse..pls say how to change or remove.
Thanks a lot. It just saved me from some annoyances.
Thank you for posting this how-to! It was very helpful. Have a great day!
thank you for sharing this information. because each time on system reboot i had to start server manually and provide ssl pass phrase but now it is working well without pass phrase. thank you once again
This was perfect for me as well. I have several sites hosted on the same box and it makes no sense to have to type in a passphrase for any single site when restarting apache. Thanks for the solution!
Thank you as well. I have to able to restart the webserver via webinterface – and there i can’t provide a password. So this was exactly what i needed!
Merci its works
thanks a lot for help!
Phew! Thanks for the help!
Many, many thanks! This saved my ass on a server upgrade.
Thank you! I have spent days figuring out how to correctly install a proper certificate on our email server.
Thanks again!