elasticsearch/docs/reference/commands/certutil.asciidoc

[role="xpack"]
[testenv="gold+"]
[[certutil]]
== elasticsearch-certutil

The `elasticsearch-certutil` command simplifies the creation of certificates for
use with Transport Layer Security (TLS) in the {stack}.

[discrete]
=== Synopsis

[source,shell]
--------------------------------------------------
bin/elasticsearch-certutil
(
(ca [--ca-dn <name>] [--days <n>] [--pem])

| (cert ([--ca <file_path>] | [--ca-cert <file_path> --ca-key <file_path>])
[--ca-dn <name>] [--ca-pass <password>] [--days <n>]
[--dns <domain_name>] [--in <input_file>] [--ip <ip_addresses>]
[--keep-ca-key] [--multiple] [--name <file_name>] [--pem] [--self-signed])

| (csr [--dns <domain_name>] [--in <input_file>] [--ip <ip_addresses>]
[--name <file_name>])

[-E <KeyValuePair>] [--keysize <bits>] [--out <file_path>]
[--pass <password>]
)

| http

[-h, --help] ([-s, --silent] | [-v, --verbose])
--------------------------------------------------

[discrete]
=== Description

You can specify one of the following modes: `ca`, `cert`, `csr`, `http`. The
`elasticsearch-certutil` command also supports a silent mode of operation to
enable easier batch operations.

[discrete]
[[certutil-ca]]
==== CA mode

The `ca` mode generates a new certificate authority (CA). By default, it
produces a single PKCS#12 output file, which holds the CA certificate and the
private key for the CA. If you specify the `--pem` parameter, the command
generates a zip file, which contains the certificate and private key in PEM
format.

You can subsequently use these files as input for the `cert` mode of the command.

[discrete]
[[certutil-cert]]
==== CERT mode

The `cert` mode generates X.509 certificates and private keys. By default, it
produces a single certificate and key for use on a single instance.

To generate certificates and keys for multiple instances, specify the
`--multiple` parameter, which prompts you for details about each instance.
Alternatively, you can use the `--in` parameter to specify a YAML file that
contains details about the instances.

An instance is any piece of the Elastic Stack that requires a TLS or SSL
certificate. Depending on your configuration, {es}, Logstash, {kib}, and Beats
might all require a certificate and private key. The minimum required
information for an instance is its name, which is used as the common name for
the certificate. The instance name can be a hostname value or a full
distinguished name. If the instance name would result in an invalid file or
directory name, you must also specify a file name in the `--name` command
parameter or in the `filename` field in an input YAML file.

You can optionally provide IP addresses or DNS names for each instance. If
neither IP addresses nor DNS names are specified, the Elastic Stack products
cannot perform hostname verification and you might need to configure the
`verification_mode` security setting to `certificate` only. For more information
about this setting, see <<security-settings>>.

All certificates that are generated by this command are signed by a CA unless
the `--self-signed` parameter is specified. You can provide your own CA with the
`--ca` or `--ca-cert` and `--ca-key` parameters. Otherwise, the command automatically generates a new CA for you.
deprecated:[7.11.0,"Generating certificates without specifying a CA certificate and key is deprecated. In the next major version you must provide a CA certificate unless the `--self-signed` option is specified."]
For more information about generating a CA, see the
<<certutil-ca,CA mode of this command>>.
To generate self-signed certificates, use the `--self-signed` parameter.

By default, the `cert` mode produces a single PKCS#12 output file which holds
the instance certificate, the instance private key, and the CA certificate. If
you specify the `--pem` parameter, the command generates PEM formatted
certificates and keys and packages them into a zip file.
If you specify the `--keep-ca-key`, `--multiple` or `--in` parameters,
the command produces a zip file containing the generated certificates and keys.

[discrete]
[[certutil-csr]]
==== CSR mode

The `csr` mode generates certificate signing requests (CSRs) that you can send
to a trusted certificate authority to obtain signed certificates. The signed
certificates must be in PEM or PKCS#12 format to work with {es}
{security-features}.

By default, the command produces a single CSR for a single instance.

To generate CSRs for multiple instances, specify the `--multiple` parameter,
which prompts you for details about each instance. Alternatively, you can use
the `--in` parameter to specify a YAML file that contains details about the
instances.

The `csr` mode produces a single zip file which contains the CSRs and the
private keys for each instance. Each CSR is provided as a standard PEM
encoding of a PKCS#10 CSR. Each key is provided as a PEM encoding of an RSA
private key.

[discrete]
[[certutil-http]]
==== HTTP mode

The `http` mode guides you through the process of generating certificates for
use on the HTTP (REST) interface for {es}. It asks you a number of questions in
order to generate the right set of files for your needs. For example, depending
on your choices, it might generate a zip file that contains a certificate
authority (CA), a certificate signing request (CSR), or certificates and keys
for use in {es} and {kib}. Each folder in the zip file contains a readme that
explains how to use the files.

[discrete]
[[certutil-parameters]]
=== Parameters

`ca`:: Specifies to generate a new local certificate authority (CA). This
parameter cannot be used with the `csr` or `cert` parameters.

`cert`:: Specifies to generate new X.509 certificates and keys.
This parameter cannot be used with the `csr` or `ca` parameters.

`csr`:: Specifies to generate certificate signing requests. This parameter
cannot be used with the `ca` or `cert` parameters.

`http`:: Generates a new certificate or certificate request for the {es} HTTP
interface.

`--ca <file_path>`:: Specifies the path to an existing CA key pair
(in PKCS#12 format). This parameter cannot be used with the `ca` or `csr` parameters.

`--ca-cert <file_path>`:: Specifies the path to an existing CA certificate (in
PEM format). You must also specify the `--ca-key` parameter. The `--ca-cert`
parameter cannot be used with the `ca` or `csr` parameters.

`--ca-dn <name>`:: Defines the _Distinguished Name_ (DN) that is used for the
generated CA certificate. The default value is
`CN=Elastic Certificate Tool Autogenerated CA`. This parameter cannot be used
with the `csr` parameter.

`--ca-key <file_path>`:: Specifies the path to an existing CA private key (in
PEM format). You must also specify the `--ca-cert` parameter. The `--ca-key`
parameter cannot be used with the `ca` or `csr` parameters.

`--ca-pass <password>`:: Specifies the password for an existing CA private key
or the generated CA private key. This parameter cannot be used with the `ca` or
`csr` parameters.

`--days <n>`:: Specifies an integer value that represents the number of days the
generated certificates are valid. The default value is `1095`. This parameter
cannot be used with the `csr` parameter.

`--dns <domain_name>`:: Specifies a comma-separated list of DNS names. This
parameter cannot be used with the `ca` parameter.

`-E <KeyValuePair>`:: Configures a setting.

`-h, --help`:: Returns all of the command parameters.

`--in <input_file>`:: Specifies the file that is used to run in silent mode. The
input file must be a YAML file. This parameter cannot be used with the `ca`
parameter.

`--ip <IP_addresses>`:: Specifies a comma-separated list of IP addresses. This
parameter cannot be used with the `ca` parameter.

`--keep-ca-key`:: When running in `cert` mode with an automatically-generated
CA, specifies to retain the CA private key for future use.

`--keysize <bits>`::
Defines the number of bits that are used in generated RSA keys. The default
value is `2048`.

`--multiple`::
Specifies to generate files for multiple instances. This parameter cannot be
used with the `ca` parameter.

`--name <file_name>`::
Specifies the name of the generated certificate. This parameter cannot be used
with the `ca` parameter.

`--out <file_path>`:: Specifies a path for the output files.

`--pass <password>`:: Specifies the password for the generated private keys.
+
Keys stored in PKCS#12 format are always password protected, however,
this password may be _blank_. If you want to specify a blank password
without a prompt, use `--pass ""` (with no `=`) on the command line.
+
Keys stored in PEM format are password protected only if the
`--pass` parameter is specified. If you do not supply an argument for the
`--pass` parameter, you are prompted for a password.
Encrypted PEM files do not support blank passwords (if you do not
wish to password-protect your PEM keys, then do not specify
`--pass`).


`--pem`:: Generates certificates and keys in PEM format instead of PKCS#12. This
parameter cannot be used with the `csr` parameter.

`--self-signed`:: Generates self-signed certificates. This parameter is only
applicable to the `cert` parameter.
+
--
NOTE: This option is not recommended for <<ssl-tls,setting up TLS on a cluster>>.
In fact, a self-signed certificate should be used only when you can be sure
that a CA is definitely not needed and trust is directly given to the
certificate itself.

--

`-s, --silent`:: Shows minimal output.

`-v, --verbose`:: Shows verbose output.

[discrete]
=== Examples

The following command generates a CA certificate and private key in PKCS#12
format:

[source, sh]
--------------------------------------------------
bin/elasticsearch-certutil ca
--------------------------------------------------

You are prompted for an output filename and a password. Alternatively, you can
specify the `--out` and `--pass` parameters.

You can then generate X.509 certificates and private keys by using the new
CA. For example:

[source, sh]
--------------------------------------------------
bin/elasticsearch-certutil cert --ca elastic-stack-ca.p12
--------------------------------------------------

You are prompted for the CA password and for an output filename and password.
Alternatively, you can specify the `--ca-pass`, `--out`, and `--pass` parameters.

By default, this command generates a file called `elastic-certificates.p12`,
which you can copy to the relevant configuration directory for each Elastic
product that you want to configure. For more information, see
<<ssl-tls>>.

[discrete]
[[certutil-silent]]
==== Using `elasticsearch-certutil` in Silent Mode

To use the silent mode of operation, you must create a YAML file that contains
information about the instances. It must match the following format:

[source, yaml]
--------------------------------------------------
instances:
  - name: "node1" <1>
    ip: <2>
      - "192.0.2.1"
    dns: <3>
      - "node1.mydomain.com"
  - name: "node2"
    ip:
      - "192.0.2.2"
      - "198.51.100.1"
  - name: "node3"
  - name: "node4"
    dns:
      - "node4.mydomain.com"
      - "node4.internal"
  - name: "CN=node5,OU=IT,DC=mydomain,DC=com"
    filename: "node5" <4>
--------------------------------------------------
<1> The name of the instance. This can be a simple string value or can be a
Distinguished Name (DN). This is the only required field.
<2> An optional array of strings that represent IP Addresses for this instance.
Both IPv4 and IPv6 values are allowed. The values are added as Subject
Alternative Names.
<3> An optional array of strings that represent DNS names for this instance.
The values are added as Subject Alternative Names.
<4> The filename to use for this instance. This name is used as the name of the
directory that contains the instance's files in the output. It is also used in
the names of the files within the directory. This filename should not have an
extension. Note: If the `name` provided for the instance does not represent a
valid filename, then the `filename` field must be present.

When your YAML file is ready, you can use the `elasticsearch-certutil` command
to generate certificates or certificate signing requests. Simply use the `--in`
parameter to specify the location of the file. For example:

[source, sh]
--------------------------------------------------
bin/elasticsearch-certutil cert --silent --in instances.yml --out test1.zip --pass testpassword --keep-ca-key
--------------------------------------------------

This command generates a compressed `test1.zip` file. After you decompress the
output file, there is a directory for each instance that was listed in the
`instances.yml` file. Each instance directory contains a single PKCS#12 (`.p12`)
file, which contains the instance certificate, instance private key, and CA
certificate.

You can also use the YAML file to generate certificate signing requests. For
example:

[source, sh]
--------------------------------------------------
bin/elasticsearch-certutil csr --silent --in instances.yml --out test2.zip --pass testpassword
--------------------------------------------------

This command generates a compressed file, which contains a directory for each
instance. Each instance directory contains a certificate signing request
(`*.csr` file) and private key (`*.key` file).