Locating Your Private Key for an SSL Certificate
Your private key is located on (and was created by) the server for which the resulting SSL certificate is intended for. When you create a CSR, the private key is generated alongside it. This private key is crucial for the encryption and decryption processes that secure your communications. Here’s how you can re-locate your private key after it has been created:
1. During the Certificate Creation Process
Command Line Interface (CLI): If you used a CLI tool like OpenSSL to generate your SSL certificate, the private key is typically saved in the same directory where you ran the command. The file might be named something like
private.keyorserver.key.
2. Web Hosting Control Panels
Plesk: If you are Webnames.ca hosting customer, go to the "Websites & Domains" section, select your domain, and then navigate to "SSL/TLS Certificates" to find your private key.
3. Server Configuration Files
Apache: The private key is usually stored in a file specified by the
SSLCertificateKeyFiledirective in your Apache configuration file (e.g.,/etc/httpd/conf.d/ssl.conf).Nginx: Look for the
ssl_certificate_keydirective in your Nginx configuration file (e.g.,/etc/nginx/nginx.conf).
4. Operating System Specific Locations
Linux: Private keys are often stored in
/etc/ssl/private/or/etc/pki/tls/private/.Windows: If you used IIS to generate the certificate, the private key is stored in the Windows Certificate Store. You can access it via the "Certificates" MMC snap-in.
Security Tips
Keep It Secure: Always store your private key in a secure location. Unauthorized access to your private key can compromise your SSL certificate.
Backup: Regularly back up your private key in a secure manner to prevent loss.