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Class sun.security.x509.CertAndKeyGen

java.lang.Object
   |
   +----sun.security.x509.CertAndKeyGen

public final class CertAndKeyGen

extends Object

This provides some simple certificate management functionality. Specifically, it allows you to create self-signed X.509 certificates as well as PKCS 10 based certificate signing requests.

Keys for some public key signature algorithms have algorithm parameters, such as DSS/DSA. Some sites' Certificate Authorities adopt fixed algorithm parameters, which speeds up some operations including key generation and signing. At this time, this interface does not provide a way to provide such algorithm parameters, e.g. by providing the CA certificate which includes those parameters.

Also, note that at this time only signature-capable keys may be acquired through this interface. Diffie-Hellman keys, used for secure key exchange, may be supported later.

See Also:

X509Cert, PKCS10

CertAndKeyGen(String, String)

Creates a CertAndKeyGen object for a particular key type and signature algorithm.

generate(int)

Generates a random public/private key pair, with a given key size.

getCertRequest(X500Name)

Returns a PKCS #10 certificate request.

getPrivateKey()

Returns the private key of the generated key pair.

getPublicKey()

Returns the public key of the generated key pair.

getSelfCert(X500Name, long)

Returns a self-signed X.509v1 certificate for the public key.

setRandom(SecureRandom)

Sets the source of random numbers used when generating keys.

 public CertAndKeyGen(String keyType,
                      String sigAlg) throws NoSuchAlgorithmException

Creates a CertAndKeyGen object for a particular key type and signature algorithm.

Parameters:

keyType - type of key, e.g. "RSA", "DSA"

sigAlg - name of the signature algorithm, e.g. "MD5WithRSA", "MD2WithRSA", "SHAwithDSA".

 public void setRandom(SecureRandom generator)

Sets the source of random numbers used when generating keys. If you do not provide one, a system default facility is used. You may wish to provide your own source of random numbers to get a reproducible sequence of keys and signatures, or because you may be able to take advantage of strong sources of randomness/entropy in your environment.

 public void generate(int keyBits) throws InvalidKeyException

Generates a random public/private key pair, with a given key size. Different algorithms provide different degrees of security for the same key size, because of the "work factor" involved in brute force attacks. As computers become faster, it becomes easier to perform such attacks. Small keys are to be avoided.

Note that not all values of "keyBits" are valid for all algorithms, and not all public key algorithms are currently supported for use in X.509 certificates. If the algorithm you specified does not produce X.509 compatible keys, an invalid key exception is thrown.

Parameters:

keyBits - the number of bits in the keys.

 public X509Key getPublicKey()

Returns the public key of the generated key pair.

 public PrivateKey getPrivateKey()

Returns the private key of the generated key pair.

Be extremely careful when handling private keys. When private keys are not kept secret, they lose their ability to securely authenticate specific entities ... that is a huge security risk!

 public X509Cert getSelfCert(X500Name myname,
                             long validity) throws InvalidKeyException, SignatureException, NoSuchAlgorithmException

Returns a self-signed X.509v1 certificate for the public key. The certificate is immediately valid.

Such certificates normally are used to identify a "Certificate Authority" (CA). Accordingly, they will not always be accepted by other parties. However, such certificates are also useful when you are bootstrapping your security infrastructure, or deploying system prototypes.

Parameters:

myname - X.500 name of the subject (who is also the issuer)

validity - how long the certificate should be valid, in seconds

 public PKCS10 getCertRequest(X500Name myname) throws InvalidKeyException, SignatureException

Returns a PKCS #10 certificate request. The caller uses either PKCS10.print or PKCS10.toByteArray operations on the result, to get the request in an appropriate transmission format.

PKCS #10 certificate requests are sent, along with some proof of identity, to Certificate Authorities (CAs) which then issue X.509 public key certificates.

Parameters:

myname - X.500 name of the subject

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