"keytool -genkeypair" - Generating Keys and Self-Signed Certificates

This section provides a tutorial example on how to use the 'keytool -genkeypair' command to generate a new pair of keys and self-signed certificate in a new 'keystore' file.

In the first example, I want to try the "-genkeypair" command option:

herong> keytool -genkeypair -alias my_home -keystore herong.jks

Enter keystore password:  HerongJKS
What is your first and last name?
  [Unknown]:  Herong Yang
What is the name of your organizational unit?
  [Unknown]:  My Unit
What is the name of your organization?
  [Unknown]:  My Home
What is the name of your City or Locality?
  [Unknown]:  My City
What is the name of your State or Province?
  [Unknown]:  My State
What is the two-letter country code for this unit?
  [Unknown]:  US
Is <CN=Herong Yang, OU=My Unit, O=My Home, L=My City, ST=My State,
   C=US> correct?
  [no]:  yes
Enter key password for <my_home>
        (RETURN if same as keystore password):  My1stKey

Based on the documentation, the above example command should do the following for me:

The following command shows that we do have a key entry in the keystore file:

herong> keytool -list -keystore herong.jks -storepass HerongJKS

Keystore type: PKCS12
Keystore provider: SUN

Your keystore contains 1 entry

my_home, Jul 1, 2018, PrivateKeyEntry,
Certificate fingerprint (SHA-256): 72:23:53:A2:C7:1B:7C:65:DE:0A:...

Note that the "-genkeypair" command option used to be called "-genkey", which is still valid in JDK 12:

herong> keytool -genkey -help
keytool -genkeypair [OPTION]...

Generates a key pair
...

Table of Contents

 About This JDK Tutorial Book

 JDK (Java Development Kit)

 Java Date-Time API

 Date, Time and Calendar Classes

 Date and Time Object and String Conversion

 Number Object and Numeric String Conversion

 Locales, Localization Methods and Resource Bundles

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 DTD (Document Type Definition) - XML Validation

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 XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language)

 Message Digest Algorithm Implementations in JDK

 Private key and Public Key Pair Generation

 PKCS#8/X.509 Private/Public Encoding Standards

 Digital Signature Algorithm and Sample Program

"keytool" Commands and "keystore" Files

 Certificates and Certificate Chains

 What Is "keystore"?

 "keytool" - Key and Certificate Management Tool

"keytool -genkeypair" - Generating Keys and Self-Signed Certificates

 "keystore" File Type: PKCS12 and JKS

 "keytool -export/import" - Exporting and Importing Certificates

 "keytool -keyclone" - Cloning Certificates with New Identities

 KeyStore and Certificate Classes

 Secret Key Generation and Management

 Cipher - Encryption and Decryption

 The SSL (Secure Socket Layer) Protocol

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 SSL Client Authentication

 HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

 Outdated Tutorials

 References

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