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Obtaining the private key and certificate on Linux servers

Last updated on Oct 18,2024 |

under

by A.H Ezam

Introduction

For Linux-based web servers like Apache and Nginx, accessing the private key and SSL certificate is crucial for securing website communications. These files ensure encrypted data transfer, and their locations may vary depending on the server configuration. This guide will walk through locating and verifying these files on Linux servers.

Prerequisites

SSH access to the Linux server
Root or sudo privileges
Paths for the private key and certificate files

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Locate the Private Key

For Apache, check /etc/ssl/private/ for a .key file.
```
/etc/ssl/private/example.com.key
```
For Nginx, check /etc/nginx/ssl/.
```
/etc/nginx/ssl/example.com.key
```

Step 2: Retrieve the SSL Certificate

Apache: Look in /etc/ssl/certs/ for a .crt or .pem file.
```
/etc/ssl/certs/example.com.crt
```
Nginx: Check /etc/nginx/ssl/ for .crt.
```
/etc/nginx/ssl/example.com.crt
```

Step 3: Match the Key and Certificate

Use OpenSSL to confirm matching:

openssl rsa -noout -modulus -in /path/to/private.key | openssl md5
openssl x509 -noout -modulus -in /path/to/certificate.crt | openssl md5

Step 4: Backup

Create secure backups of both files.

Conclusion

This guide covers accessing and verifying SSL private keys and certificates on Linux servers. Should you have any inquiries about the guidelines, please feel free to open a ticket through your portal account or contact us at support@ipserverone.com. We’ll be happy to assist you further.