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selfsigned
Advanced tools
The selfsigned npm package is used to generate self-signed SSL/TLS certificates. It is primarily used for development purposes where trusted certificates are not required. The package allows users to create certificates with various options, such as setting the validity period, adding extensions, and defining subject fields.
Generate a self-signed certificate
This feature allows the generation of a self-signed certificate with a common name of 'contoso.com' and a validity of 365 days. The 'pems' object contains the private key, certificate, and other related PEM-encoded data.
const selfsigned = require('selfsigned');
const attrs = [{ name: 'commonName', value: 'contoso.com' }];
const options = { days: 365 };
selfsigned.generate(attrs, options, function(err, pems) {
console.log(pems);
});
Generate a certificate with custom extensions
This feature allows the generation of a self-signed certificate with custom extensions, such as marking the certificate as a CA (Certificate Authority). This is useful for creating more complex certificate chains or for specific use cases requiring certain extensions.
const selfsigned = require('selfsigned');
const attrs = [{ name: 'commonName', value: 'contoso.com' }];
const extensions = [{ name: 'basicConstraints', cA: true }];
const options = { days: 365, extensions: extensions };
selfsigned.generate(attrs, options, function(err, pems) {
console.log(pems);
});
The 'pem' package is used to generate and manage SSL certificates and keys. It can create private keys, CSRs (Certificate Signing Requests), and certificates. It also supports additional features like creating PKCS12 files and converting certificates to different formats. Compared to 'selfsigned', 'pem' offers a broader range of functionalities for managing certificates beyond just self-signing.
The 'node-forge' package is a native JavaScript implementation of various networking cryptographic operations. It includes the ability to create self-signed certificates, but it also provides a wide range of cryptographic functions such as encryption, decryption, signing, and verification. 'node-forge' is more comprehensive than 'selfsigned' in terms of overall cryptographic capabilities.
Generate a self signed x509 certificate from node.js.
npm install selfsigned
var selfsigned = require('selfsigned');
var attrs = [{ name: 'commonName', value: 'contoso.com' }];
var pems = selfsigned.generate(attrs, { days: 365 });
console.log(pems)
Will return the following like this:
{
private: '-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\r\n/mgqN589OfF4SS0U/MoRzYk9jF9IAJN1Mi/571T+nw4=\r\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\r\n',
public: '-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\r\nMIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQCBFMXMYS/+RZz6+qzv+xeqXPdj\r\nw4YKZC4y3dPhSwgEwkecrCTXsR6boue+1MjIqPqWggXZnotIGldfEN0kn0Jbh2vM\r\nTrTx6YwqQ8tceBPoyuuqcYBOOONAcKOB3MLnZbyOgVtbyT3j68JE5V/lx6LhpIKA\r\ngY0m5WIuaKrW6mvLXQIDAQAB\r\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----\r\n',
cert: '-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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\r\nXJZAPO10PHuDen7JeMOUf1Re7lRFtwfRGAvVYmrvYFKv\r\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\r\n'
}
var pems = selfsigned.generate(null, {
keySize: 2048, // the size for the private key in bits (default: 1024)
days: 30, // how long till expiry of the signed certificate (default: 365)
algorithm: 'sha256', // sign the certificate with specified algorithm (default: 'sha1')
extensions: [{ name: 'basicConstraints', cA: true }], // certificate extensions array
pkcs7: true, // include PKCS#7 as part of the output (default: false)
clientCertificate: true, // generate client cert signed by the original key (default: false)
clientCertificateCN: 'jdoe' // client certificate's common name (default: 'John Doe jdoe123')
});
If you are in an environment where servers require client certificates, you can generate client keys signed by the original (server) key.
var pems = selfsigned.generate(null, { clientCertificate: true });
console.log(pems)
Will return the following like this:
{ private: '-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\r\nfVUSx1nCF1sPD0p+pO8Rj3i87iI4MlblQRm/wVkrkjiR\r\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\r\n',
public: '-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\r\nMIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDLg/kS4dCPVu96sbK6MQuUPmhq\r\nnF8SeBXVHH18h+0BTj7HqnrAA75hNVIiSLTChvpzQ0qi2Ju7O2ESUOdx7cvGiftG\r\nuZLiI8uL2HVlYuX+wQTIoRHx9nxv56TIiqnPg5d05vSTLXoiJg5uac3a6+4vnhhT\r\no0XRRXVVboZsfNpuGQIDAQAB\r\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----\r\n',
cert: '-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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\r\nAE/FO85R0HbGEp+IrwUwDOLR6omBFVdh1EUOTcQU2jLZNbWvLDiWbDo=\r\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\r\n',
clientprivate: '-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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\r\ncwIs+ikIBnOwUOh6liJ7yK1YnckDTZTOfUDyG+vdFQ==\r\n-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----\r\n',
clientpublic: '-----BEGIN PUBLIC KEY-----\r\nMIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDjR5FrrdZ1jirqkx3KMPnGjrcO\r\nbj/vmztWTEZ1kX6gTskQugJUoxktzwDZza4jYODC6Ud2jouFLWeAi5BDSAeLwAQb\r\n951qVD9zVsmQ+63V/mvSJUojigwj7YjcxyReJ17F0YgjceqrkZaPM8YRo8h1fj1J\r\ndPc4ZOUgA5ASZ0h2ewIDAQAB\r\n-----END PUBLIC KEY-----\r\n',
clientcert: '-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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\r\nnizRS0HY4Q25JLCmsWWy\r\n-----END CERTIFICATE-----\r\n' }
To override the default client CN of john doe jdoe123
, add another option for clientCertificateCN
:
var pems = selfsigned.generate(null, { clientCertificate: true, clientCertificateCN: 'FooBar' });
MIT
FAQs
Generate self signed certificates private and public keys
The npm package selfsigned receives a total of 10,380,882 weekly downloads. As such, selfsigned popularity was classified as popular.
We found that selfsigned demonstrated a healthy version release cadence and project activity because the last version was released less than a year ago. It has 2 open source maintainers collaborating on the project.
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