gistfile1.md

Client-side SSL

For excessively paranoid client authentication.

Using self-signed certificate.

Create a Certificate Authority root (which represents this server)

Organization & Common Name: Some human identifier for this server CA.

openssl genrsa -des3 -out ca.key 4096
openssl req -new -x509 -days 365 -key ca.key -out ca.crt

Create the Client Key and CSR

Organization & Common Name = Person name

openssl genrsa -des3 -out client.key 4096
openssl req -new -key client.key -out client.csr
# self-signed
openssl x509 -req -days 365 -in client.csr -CA ca.crt -CAkey ca.key -set_serial 01 -out client.crt

Convert Client Key to PKCS

So that it may be installed in most browsers.

openssl pkcs12 -export -clcerts -in client.crt -inkey client.key -out client.p12

Convert Client Key to (combined) PEM

Combines client.crt and client.key into a single PEM file for programs using openssl.

openssl pkcs12 -in client.p12 -out client.pem -clcerts

Install Client Key on client device (OS or browser)

Use client.p12. Actual instructions vary.