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Initial docs for the OpenSSL library configuration via openssl.cnf

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Dr. Stephen Henson 2004-03-01 01:04:40 +00:00
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doc/apps/config.pod
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@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ config - OpenSSL CONF library configuration files
The OpenSSL CONF library can be used to read configuration files.
It is used for the OpenSSL master configuration file B<openssl.cnf>
and in a few other places like B<SPKAC> files and certificate extension
files for the B<x509> utility.
files for the B<x509> utility. OpenSSL applications can also use the
CONF library for their own purposes.
A configuration file is divided into a number of sections. Each section
starts with a line B<[ section_name ]> and ends when a new section is
@ -51,13 +52,71 @@ or the B<\> character. By making the last character of a line a B<\>
a B<value> string can be spread across multiple lines. In addition
the sequences B<\n>, B<\r>, B<\b> and B<\t> are recognized.
=head1 OPENSSL LIBRARY CONFIGURATION
In OpenSSL 0.9.7 and later applications can automatically configure certain
aspects of OpenSSL using the master OpenSSL configuration file, or optionally
an alternative configuration file. The B<openssl> utility includes this
functionality: any sub command uses the master OpenSSL configuration file
unless an option is used in the sub command to use an alternative configuration
file.
To enable library configuration the default section needs to contain an
appropriate line which points to the main configuration section. The default
name is B<openssl_conf> which is used by the B<openssl> utility. Other
applications may use an alternative name such as B<myapplicaton_conf>.
The configuration section should consist of a set of name value pairs which
contain specific module configuration information. The B<name> represents
the name of the I<configuration module> the meaning of the B<value> is
module specific: it may, for example, represent a further configuration
section containing configuration module specific information. E.g.
openssl_conf = openssl_init
[openssl_init]
oid_section = new_oids
engines = engine_section
[new_oids]
... new oids here ...
[engine_section]
... engine stuff here ...
Currently there are two supported configuration modules supported. One for
ASN1 objects another for ENGINE configuration.
=head2 ASN1 OBJECT CONFIGURATION MODULE
This module has the name B<oid_section>. The value of this variable points
to a section containing name value pairs of OIDs: the name is the OID short
and long name, the value is the numerical form of the OID. Although some of
the B<openssl> utility sub commands already have their own ASN1 OBJECT section
functionality not all do. By using the ASN1 OBJECT configuration module
B<all> the B<openssl> utility sub commands can see the new objects as well
as any compliant applications. For example:
[new_oids]
some_new_oid = 1.2.3.4
some_other_oid = 1.2.3.5
=head2 ENGINE CONFIGURATION MODULE
To be continued...
=head1 NOTES
If a configuration file attempts to expand a variable that doesn't exist
then an error is flagged and the file will not load. This can happen
if an attempt is made to expand an environment variable that doesn't
exist. For example the default OpenSSL master configuration file used
the value of B<HOME> which may not be defined on non Unix systems.
exist. For example in a previous version of OpenSSL the default OpenSSL
master configuration file used the value of B<HOME> which may not be
defined on non Unix systems and would cause an error.
This can be worked around by including a B<default> section to provide
a default value: then if the environment lookup fails the default value