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368 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
368 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
# Step Certificates
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An online certificate authority and related tools for secure automated certificate management, so you can use TLS everywhere.
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This repository is for `step-ca`, a certificate authority that exposes an API for automated certificate management. It also contains a [golang SDK](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/tree/master/examples#basic-client-usage) for interacting with `step-ca` programatically. However, you'll probably want to use the [`step` command-line tool](https://github.com/smallstep/cli) to operate `step-ca` and get certificates, instead of using this low-level SDK directly.
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**Questions? Find us [on gitter](https://gitter.im/smallstep/community).**
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[Website](https://smallstep.com) |
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[Documentation](#documentation) |
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[Installation Guide](#installation-guide) |
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[Getting Started](./docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) |
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[Contribution Guide](./docs/CONTRIBUTING.md)
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[](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/releases)
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[](https://gitter.im/smallstep/community)
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[](https://microbadger.com/images/smallstep/step-ca)
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[](https://goreportcard.com/report/github.com/smallstep/certificates)
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[](https://travis-ci.com/smallstep/certificates)
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[](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
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[](https://cla-assistant.io/smallstep/certificates)
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[](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/stargazers)
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[](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=smallsteplabs)
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## Features
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It's super easy to get started and to operate `step-ca` thanks to [streamlined initialization](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates#lets-get-started) and [safe, sane defaults](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/blob/master/docs/defaults.md). **Get started in 15 minutes.**
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### A private certificate authority you run yourself
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- Issue client and server certificates to VMs, containers, devices, and people using internal hostnames and emails
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- [RFC5280](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5280) and [CA/Browser Forum](https://cabforum.org/baseline-requirements-documents/) compliant certificates that work **for TLS and HTTPS**
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- Choose key types (RSA, ECDSA, EdDSA) & lifetimes to suit your needs
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- [Short-lived certificates](https://smallstep.com/blog/passive-revocation.html) with **fully automated** enrollment, renewal, and revocation
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- Fast, stable, and capable of high availability deployment using [root federation](https://smallstep.com/blog/step-v0.8.3-federation-root-rotation.html) and/or multiple intermediaries
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- Operate as an online intermediate for an existing root CA
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- [Pluggable database backends](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/blob/master/docs/database.md) for persistence
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- [Helm charts](https://hub.helm.sh/charts/smallstep/step-certificates), [autocert](https://github.com/smallstep/autocert), and [cert-manager integration](https://github.com/smallstep/step-issuer) for kubernetes
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### Lots of (automatable) ways to get certificates
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- [Single sign-on](https://smallstep.com/blog/easily-curl-services-secured-by-https-tls.html) using Okta, GSuite, Active Directory, or any other OAuth OIDC identity provider
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- [Instance identity documents](https://smallstep.com/blog/embarrassingly-easy-certificates-on-aws-azure-gcp/) for VMs on AWS, GCP, and Azure
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- [Single-use short-lived tokens](https://smallstep.com/docs/design-doc.html#jwk-provisioner) issued by your CD tool — Puppet, Chef, Ansible, Terraform, etc.
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- Use an existing certificate from another CA (e.g., using a device certificate like [Twilio's Trust OnBoard](https://www.twilio.com/wireless/trust-onboard)) *coming soon*
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### [Your own private ACME Server](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/)
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- Issue certificates using ACMEv2 ([RFC8555](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8555)), **the protocol used by Let's Encrypt**
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- Great for [using ACME in development & pre-production](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#local-development-pre-production)
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- Supports the `http-01` and `dns-01` ACME challenge types
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- Works with any compliant ACME client including [certbot](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#certbot-uploads-acme-certbot-png-certbot-example), [acme.sh](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#acme-sh-uploads-acme-acme-sh-png-acme-sh-example), [Caddy](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#caddy-uploads-acme-caddy-png-caddy-example), and [traefik](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#traefik-uploads-acme-traefik-png-traefik-example)
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- Get certificates programmatically (e.g., in [Go](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#golang-uploads-acme-golang-png-go-example), [Python](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#python-uploads-acme-python-png-python-example), [Node.js](https://smallstep.com/blog/private-acme-server/#node-js-uploads-acme-node-js-png-node-js-example))
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### [SSH Certificates](https://smallstep.com/blog/use-ssh-certificates/)
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- Use [certificate authentication for SSH](https://smallstep.com/blog/use-ssh-certificates/): connect SSH to SSO, improve security, and eliminate warnings & errors
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- Issue SSH user certificates using OAuth OIDC
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- Issue SSH host certificates to cloud VMs using instance identity documents
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### Easy certificate management and automation via [`step` CLI](https://github.com/smallstep/cli) [integration](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/ca/)
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- Generate key pairs where they're needed so private keys are never transmitted across the network
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- [Authenticate and obtain a certificate](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/ca/certificate/) using any enrollment mechanism supported by `step-ca`
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- Securely [distribute root certificates](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/ca/root/) and [bootstrap](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/ca/bootstrap/) PKI relying parties
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- [Renew](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/ca/renew/) and [revoke](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/ca/revoke/) certificates issued by `step-ca`
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- [Install root certificates](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/certificate/install/) so your CA is trusted by default (issue development certificates **that [work in browsers](https://smallstep.com/blog/step-v0-8-6-valid-HTTPS-certificates-for-dev-pre-prod.html)**)
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- [Inspect](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/certificate/inspect/) and [lint](https://smallstep.com/docs/cli/certificate/lint/) certificates
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## Motivation
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Managing your own *public key infrastructure* (PKI) can be tedious and error
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prone. Good security hygiene is hard. Setting up simple PKI is out of reach for
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many small teams, and following best practices like proper certificate
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revocation and rolling is challenging even for experts.
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Amongst numerous use cases, proper PKI makes it easy to use mTLS (mutual TLS)
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to improve security and to make it possible to connect services across the
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public internet. Unlike VPNs & SDNs, deploying and scaling mTLS is pretty
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easy. You're (hopefully) already using TLS, and your existing tools and
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standard libraries will provide most of what you need. If you know how to
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operate DNS and reverse proxies, you know how to operate mTLS
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infrastructure.
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There's just one problem: **you need certificates issued by your own
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certificate authority (CA)**. Building and operating a CA, issuing
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certificates, and making sure they're renewed before they expire is tricky.
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This project provides the infrastructure, automations, and workflows you'll
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need.
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`step certificates` is part of smallstep's broader security architecture, which
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makes it much easier to implement good security practices early, and
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incrementally improve them as your system matures.
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For more information and [docs](https://smallstep.com/docs) see [the smallstep
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website](https://smallstep.com/certificates) and the [blog
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post](https://smallstep.com/blog/step-certificates.html) announcing this project.
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## Installation Guide
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These instructions will install an OS specific version of the `step-ca` binary on
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your local machine.
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While `step` is not required to run `step-ca`, it will make your life easier so you'll probably want to [install it](https://github.com/smallstep/cli#installation-guide) too.
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### Mac OS
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Install `step` and `step-ca` together via [Homebrew](https://brew.sh/):
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<pre><code><b>$ brew install step</b>
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# Test installation ...
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<b>$ step certificate inspect https://smallstep.com</b>
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Certificate:
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Data:
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Version: 3 (0x2)
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Serial Number: 326381749415081530968054238478851085504954 (0x3bf265673332db2d0c70e48a163fb7d11ba)
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Signature Algorithm: SHA256-RSA
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Issuer: C=US,O=Let's Encrypt,CN=Let's Encrypt Authority X3
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...</code></pre>
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> Note: If you have installed `step` previously through the `smallstep/smallstep`
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> tap you will need to run the following commands before installing:
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>
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> ```
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> $ brew untap smallstep/smallstep
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> $ brew uninstall step
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> ```
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### Linux
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#### Debian
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1. [Optional] Install `step`.
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Download the latest Debian package from
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[`step` releases](https://github.com/smallstep/cli/releases):
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```
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$ wget https://github.com/smallstep/cli/releases/download/X.Y.Z/step_X.Y.Z_amd64.deb
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```
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Install the Debian package:
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```
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$ sudo dpkg -i step_X.Y.Z_amd64.deb
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```
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2. Install `step-ca`.
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Download the latest Debian package from [releases](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/releases):
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```
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$ wget https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/releases/download/X.Y.Z/step-certificates_X.Y.Z_amd64.deb
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```
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Install the Debian package:
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```
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$ sudo dpkg -i step-certificates_X.Y.Z_amd64.deb
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```
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#### Arch Linux
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We are using the [Arch User Repository](https://aur.archlinux.org) to distribute
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`step` binaries for Arch Linux.
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* [Optional] The `step` binary tarball can be found [here](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/step-cli-bin/).
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* The `step-ca` binary tarball can be found [here](https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/step-ca-bin/).
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You can use [pacman](https://www.archlinux.org/pacman/) to install the packages.
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### Kubernetes
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We publish [helm charts](https://hub.helm.sh/charts/smallstep/step-certificates) for easy installation on kubernetes:
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```
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helm install step-certificates
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```
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> <a href="https://github.com/smallstep/autocert"><img width="25%" src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/smallstep/autocert/master/autocert-logo.png"></a>
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>
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> If you're using Kubernetes, make sure you [check out
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> autocert](https://github.com/smallstep/autocert): a kubernetes add-on that builds on `step
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> certificates` to automatically inject TLS/HTTPS certificates into your containers.
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### Test
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<pre><code><b>$ step version</b>
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Smallstep CLI/0.10.0 (darwin/amd64)
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Release Date: 2019-04-30 19:01 UTC
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<b>$ step-ca version</b>
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Smallstep CA/0.10.0 (darwin/amd64)
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Release Date: 2019-04-30 19:02 UTC</code></pre>
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## Quickstart
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In the following guide we'll run a simple `hello` server that requires clients
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to connect over an authorized and encrypted channel using HTTPS. `step-ca`
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will issue certificates to our server, allowing it to authenticate and encrypt
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communication. Let's get started!
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### Prerequisites
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* [`step`](#installation-guide)
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* [golang](https://golang.org/doc/install)
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### Let's get started!
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#### 1. Run `step ca init` to create your CA's keys & certificates and configure `step-ca`:
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<pre><code><b>$ step ca init</b>
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✔ What would you like to name your new PKI? (e.g. Smallstep): <b>Example Inc.</b>
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✔ What DNS names or IP addresses would you like to add to your new CA? (e.g. ca.smallstep.com[,1.1.1.1,etc.]): <b>localhost</b>
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✔ What address will your new CA listen at? (e.g. :443): <b>127.0.0.1:8080</b>
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✔ What would you like to name the first provisioner for your new CA? (e.g. you@smallstep.com): <b>bob@example.com</b>
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✔ What do you want your password to be? [leave empty and we'll generate one]: <b>abc123</b>
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Generating root certificate...
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all done!
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Generating intermediate certificate...
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all done!
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✔ Root certificate: /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/certs/root_ca.crt
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✔ Root private key: /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/secrets/root_ca_key
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✔ Root fingerprint: 702a094e239c9eec6f0dcd0a5f65e595bf7ed6614012825c5fe3d1ae1b2fd6ee
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✔ Intermediate certificate: /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/certs/intermediate_ca.crt
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✔ Intermediate private key: /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/secrets/intermediate_ca_key
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✔ Default configuration: /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/config/defaults.json
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✔ Certificate Authority configuration: /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/config/ca.json
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Your PKI is ready to go. To generate certificates for individual services see 'step help ca'.</code></pre>
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This command will:
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- Generate [password protected](https://github.com/smallstep/certificates/blob/master/docs/GETTING_STARTED.md#passwords) private keys for your CA to sign certificates
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- Generate a root and [intermediate signing certificate](https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/128779/why-is-it-more-secure-to-use-intermediate-ca-certificates) for your CA
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- Create a JSON configuration file for `step-ca` (see [getting started](./docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) for details)
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You can find these artifacts in `$STEPPATH` (or `~/.step` by default).
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#### 2. Start `step-ca`:
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You'll be prompted for your password from the previous step, to decrypt the CA's private signing key:
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<pre><code><b>$ step-ca $(step path)/config/ca.json</b>
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Please enter the password to decrypt /Users/bob/src/github.com/smallstep/step/.step/secrets/intermediate_ca_key: <b>abc123</b>
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2019/02/18 13:28:58 Serving HTTPS on 127.0.0.1:8080 ...</code></pre>
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#### 3. Copy our `hello world` golang server.
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```
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$ cat > srv.go <<EOF
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package main
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import (
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"net/http"
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"log"
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)
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func HiHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
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w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/plain")
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w.Write([]byte("Hello, world!\n"))
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}
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func main() {
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http.HandleFunc("/hi", HiHandler)
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err := http.ListenAndServeTLS(":8443", "srv.crt", "srv.key", nil)
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if err != nil {
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log.Fatal(err)
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}
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}
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EOF
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```
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#### 4. Get an identity for your server from the Step CA.
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<pre><code><b>$ step ca certificate localhost srv.crt srv.key</b>
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✔ Key ID: rQxROEr7Kx9TNjSQBTETtsu3GKmuW9zm02dMXZ8GUEk (bob@example.com)
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✔ Please enter the password to decrypt the provisioner key: abc123
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✔ CA: https://localhost:8080/1.0/sign
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✔ Certificate: srv.crt
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✔ Private Key: srv.key
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<b>$ step certificate inspect --bundle srv.crt</b>
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Certificate:
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Data:
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Version: 3 (0x2)
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Serial Number: 140439335711218707689123407681832384336 (0x69a7a1d7f6f22f68059d2d9088307750)
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Signature Algorithm: ECDSA-SHA256
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Issuer: CN=Example Inc. Intermediate CA
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Validity
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Not Before: Feb 18 21:32:35 2019 UTC
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Not After : Feb 19 21:32:35 2019 UTC
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Subject: CN=localhost
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...
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Certificate:
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Data:
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Version: 3 (0x2)
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Serial Number: 207035091234452090159026162349261226844 (0x9bc18217bd560cf07db23178ed90835c)
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Signature Algorithm: ECDSA-SHA256
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Issuer: CN=Example Inc. Root CA
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Validity
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Not Before: Feb 18 21:27:21 2019 UTC
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Not After : Feb 15 21:27:21 2029 UTC
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Subject: CN=Example Inc. Intermediate CA
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...</code></pre>
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Note that `step` and `step-ca` handle details like [certificate bundling](https://smallstep.com/blog/everything-pki.html#intermediates-chains-and-bundling) for you.
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#### 5. Run the simple server.
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<pre><code><b>$ go run srv.go &</b></code></pre>
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#### 6. Get the root certificate from the Step CA.
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In a new Terminal window:
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<pre><code><b>$ step ca root root.crt</b>
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The root certificate has been saved in root.crt.</code></pre>
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#### 7. Make an authenticated, encrypted curl request to your server using HTTP over TLS.
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<pre><code><b>$ curl --cacert root.crt https://localhost:8443/hi</b>
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Hello, world!</code></pre>
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*All Done!*
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Check out the [Getting Started](./docs/GETTING_STARTED.md) guide for more examples
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and best practices on running Step CA in production.
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## Documentation
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Documentation can be found in a handful of different places:
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1. The [docs](./docs/README.md) sub-repo has an index of documentation and tutorials.
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2. On the command line with `step ca help xxx` where `xxx` is the subcommand
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you are interested in. Ex: `step help ca provisioners list`.
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3. On the web at https://smallstep.com/docs/certificates.
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4. On your browser by running `step help --http=:8080 ca` from the command line
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and visiting http://localhost:8080.
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## The Future
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We plan to build more tools that facilitate the use and management of zero trust
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networks.
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* Tell us what you like and don't like about managing your PKI - we're eager to
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help solve problems in this space.
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* Tell us what features you'd like to see - open issues or hit us on
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[Twitter](https://twitter.com/smallsteplabs).
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## Further Reading
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Check out the [Getting Started](https://smallstep.com/docs/getting-started/) guide for more examples
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and best practices on running Step CA in production.
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