Prevent password prompt when starting Apache's SSL

When OpenSSL is first configured it is normal to encrypt the SSL encryption key. This means that when the SSL is started a password is required so that the key can be decrypted. To prevent this happening you simply store the key unencrypted. Obviously there are security implications to this.

First create a backup of the encrypted key with

     
cd /path/to/apache-conf/ssl.key/
cp server.key server.key.encrypted
   

then use OpenSSL to decrypt the key

/usr/sbin/openssl rsa -in server.key.encrypted -out server.key

and you will be prompted for the password to decrypt the key. That's it. From now on SSL will start without prompting you for a password.

References:

Last modified: 07/05/2006 (most likely earlier as a site migration in 2006 reset some dates) Tags: (none)

This website is a personal resource. Nothing here is guaranteed correct or complete, so use at your own risk and try not to delete the Internet. -Stephan

Site Info

Privacy policy

Go to top