NAME

       pkey - public or private key processing tool

SYNOPSIS

       openssl pkey [-inform PEM|DER] [-outform PEM|DER] [-in filename] [-passin arg] [-out filename] [-passout
       arg] [-cipher] [-text] [-text_pub] [-noout] [-pubin] [-pubout] [-engine id]

DESCRIPTION

       The pkey command processes public or private keys. They can be converted between various forms and their
       components printed out.

COMMAND OPTIONS

       -inform DER|PEM
           This specifies the input format DER or PEM.

       -outform DER|PEM
           This specifies the output format, the options have the same meaning as the -inform option.

       -in filename
           This  specifies  the  input  filename  to  read  a  key  from or standard input if this option is not
           specified. If the key is encrypted a pass phrase will be prompted for.

       -passin arg
           the input file password source. For more information about the format of  arg  see  the  PASS  PHRASE
           ARGUMENTS section in openssl(1).

       -out filename
           This  specifies  the  output  filename  to  write  a  key to or standard output if this option is not
           specified. If any encryption options are set then a pass phrase will  be  prompted  for.  The  output
           filename should not be the same as the input filename.

       -passout password
           the  output  file  password  source. For more information about the format of arg see the PASS PHRASE
           ARGUMENTS section in openssl(1).

       -cipher
           These options encrypt the private key with the  supplied  cipher.  Any  algorithm  name  accepted  by
           EVP_get_cipherbyname() is acceptable such as des3.

       -text
           prints  out  the  various  public  or private key components in plain text in addition to the encoded
           version.

       -text_pub
           print out only public key components even if a private key is being processed.

       -noout
           do not output the encoded version of the key.

       -pubin
           by default a private key is read from the input file: with this option a public key is read instead.

       -pubout
           by default a private key is output: with this option a public key will be output instead. This option
           is automatically set if the input is a public key.

       -engine id
           specifying an engine (by its unique id string) will cause pkey to  attempt  to  obtain  a  functional
           reference to the specified engine, thus initialising it if needed. The engine will then be set as the
           default for all available algorithms.

EXAMPLES

       To remove the pass phrase on an RSA private key:

        openssl pkey -in key.pem -out keyout.pem

       To encrypt a private key using triple DES:

        openssl pkey -in key.pem -des3 -out keyout.pem

       To convert a private key from PEM to DER format:

        openssl pkey -in key.pem -outform DER -out keyout.der

       To print out the components of a private key to standard output:

        openssl pkey -in key.pem -text -noout

       To print out the public components of a private key to standard output:

        openssl pkey -in key.pem -text_pub -noout

       To just output the public part of a private key:

        openssl pkey -in key.pem -pubout -out pubkey.pem

SEE ALSO

       genpkey(1), rsa(1), pkcs8(1), dsa(1), genrsa(1), gendsa(1)

1.0.1f                                             2014-01-06                                         PKEY(1SSL)