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)