MakeCert - Create X.509 certificates for test purposes

makecert [options] certificate

Create an X.509 certificate using the provided informations. This is useful for testing Authenticode signatures, SSL and S/MIME technologies.

-# num

Specify the certificate serial number.

-n dn

Specify the subject Distinguished Name (DN).

-in dn

Specify the issuer Distinguished Name (DN).

-r

Create a self-signed, also called root, certificate.

-iv pvkfile

Specify the private key file (.PVK) for the issuer. The private key in the specified file will be used to sign the new certificate.

-ic certfile

Extract the issuer's name from the specified certificate file - i.e. the subject name of the specified certificate becomes the issuer name of the new certificate.

-in name

Use the issuer's name from the specified parameter.

-ik container

Specify the key container name to be used for the issuer.

-iky [signature | exchange | #]

Specify the key number to be used in the provider (when used with -ik).

-ip provider

Specify the cryptographic provider to be used for the issuer.

-ir [localmachine | currentuser]

Specify the provider will search the user or the machine keys containers for the issuer.

-iy number

Specify the provider type to be used for the issuer.

-sv pkvfile

Specify the private key file (.PVK) for the subject. The public part of the key will be inserted into the created certificate. If non-existant the specified file will be created with a new key pair (default to 1024 bits RSA key pair).

-sk container

Specify the key container name to be used for the subject.

-sky [signature | exchange | #]

Specify the key number to be used in the provider (when used with -sk).

-sp provider

Specify the cryptographic provider to be used for the subject.

-sr [localmachine | currentuser]

Specify the provider will search the user or the machine keys containers for the subject.

-sy number

Specify the provider type to be used for the issuer.

-a hash

Select hash algorithm. Only MD5 and SHA1 algorithms are supported.

-b date

The date since when the certificate is valid (notBefore).

-e date

The date until when the certificate is valid (notAfter).

-m number

Specify the certificate validity period in months. This is added to the notBefore validity date which can be set with -b or will default to the current date/time.

-cy [authority|end]

Basic constraints. Select Authority or End-Entity certificate. Only Authority certificates can be used to sign other certificates (-ic). End-Entity can be used by clients (e.g. Authenticode, S/MIME) or servers (e.g. SSL).

-h number

Add a path length restriction to the certificate chain. This is only applicable for certificates that have BasicConstraint set to Authority (-cy authority). This is used to limit the chain of certificates than can be issued under this authority.

-eku oid[,oid]

Add some extended key usage OID to the certificate.

-p12 pkcs12file password

Create a new PKCS#12 file containing both the certificates (the subject and possibly the issuer's) and the private key. The PKCS#12 file is protected with the specified password. This option is mono exclusive.

-?

Help (display this help message)

-!

Extended help (for advanced options)

To create a SSL test (i.e. non trusted) certificate is easy once your know your host's name. The following command will create a test certificate for an SSL server:

	$ hostname 
	pollux

$ makecert -r -eku 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1 -n "CN=pollux" -sv pollux.pvk pollux.cer Success

In particular in the above example, the parameters used to build this test certificate were:

-r

Create a self-signed certificate (i.e. without an hierarchy).

-eku 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1

Optional (as sadly most client don't require it). This indicates that your certificate is intended for server-side authentication.

-n CN=pollux

Common Name (CN) = Host name. This is verified the SSL client and must match the connected host (or else you'll get a warning or error or *gasp* nothing).

-sv private.key

The private key file. The key (1024 bits RSA key pair) will be automatically generated if the specified file isn't present.

pollux.cer

The SSL certificate to be created for your host.

Compared to the Windows version some options aren't supported (-$, -d, -l, -nscp, -is, -sc, -ss). Also PVK files with passwords aren't supported.

Written by Sebastien Pouliot

Copyright (C) 2003 Motus Technologies. Copyright (C) 2004-2005 Novell. Released under BSD license.

Visit http://lists.ximian.com/mailman/listinfo/mono-devel-list for details.

Visit http://www.mono-project.com for details

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