FAQ updates from HEAD

This commit is contained in:
Bodo Möller 2008-05-28 22:30:39 +00:00
parent cec9bce126
commit cb896f8923

47
FAQ
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@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ OpenSSL - Frequently Asked Questions
* How do I install a CA certificate into a browser? * How do I install a CA certificate into a browser?
* Why is OpenSSL x509 DN output not conformant to RFC2253? * Why is OpenSSL x509 DN output not conformant to RFC2253?
* What is a "128 bit certificate"? Can I create one with OpenSSL? * What is a "128 bit certificate"? Can I create one with OpenSSL?
* Why does OpenSSL set the authority key identifier extension incorrectly?
* How can I set up a bundle of commercial root CA certificates? * How can I set up a bundle of commercial root CA certificates?
[BUILD] Questions about building and testing OpenSSL [BUILD] Questions about building and testing OpenSSL
@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ OpenSSL - Frequently Asked Questions
* Why does compilation fail due to an undefined symbol NID_uniqueIdentifier? * Why does compilation fail due to an undefined symbol NID_uniqueIdentifier?
* I think I've detected a memory leak, is this a bug? * I think I've detected a memory leak, is this a bug?
* Why does Valgrind complain about the use of uninitialized data? * Why does Valgrind complain about the use of uninitialized data?
* Why doesn't a memory BIO work when a file does?
=============================================================================== ===============================================================================
@ -403,10 +405,10 @@ You can't generally create such a certificate using OpenSSL but there is no
need to any more. Nowadays web browsers using unrestricted strong encryption need to any more. Nowadays web browsers using unrestricted strong encryption
are generally available. are generally available.
When there were tight export restrictions on the export of strong encryption When there were tight restrictions on the export of strong encryption
software from the US only weak encryption algorithms could be freely exported software from the US only weak encryption algorithms could be freely exported
(initially 40 bit and then 56 bit). It was widely recognised that this was (initially 40 bit and then 56 bit). It was widely recognised that this was
inadequate. A relaxation the rules allowed the use of strong encryption but inadequate. A relaxation of the rules allowed the use of strong encryption but
only to an authorised server. only to an authorised server.
Two slighly different techniques were developed to support this, one used by Two slighly different techniques were developed to support this, one used by
@ -427,6 +429,25 @@ The export laws were later changed to allow almost unrestricted use of strong
encryption so these certificates are now obsolete. encryption so these certificates are now obsolete.
* Why does OpenSSL set the authority key identifier (AKID) extension incorrectly?
It doesn't: this extension is often the cause of confusion.
Consider a certificate chain A->B->C so that A signs B and B signs C. Suppose
certificate C contains AKID.
The purpose of this extension is to identify the authority certificate B. This
can be done either by including the subject key identifier of B or its issuer
name and serial number.
In this latter case because it is identifying certifcate B it must contain the
issuer name and serial number of B.
It is often wrongly assumed that it should contain the subject name of B. If it
did this would be redundant information because it would duplicate the issuer
name of C.
* How can I set up a bundle of commercial root CA certificates? * How can I set up a bundle of commercial root CA certificates?
The OpenSSL software is shipped without any root CA certificate as the The OpenSSL software is shipped without any root CA certificate as the
@ -920,5 +941,25 @@ OpenSSL library has been compiled with the PURIFY macro defined (-DPURIFY)
to get rid of these warnings. to get rid of these warnings.
=============================================================================== * Why doesn't a memory BIO work when a file does?
This can occur in several cases for example reading an S/MIME email message.
The reason is that a memory BIO can do one of two things when all the data
has been read from it.
The default behaviour is to indicate that no more data is available and that
the call should be retried, this is to allow the application to fill up the BIO
again if necessary.
Alternatively it can indicate that no more data is available and that EOF has
been reached.
If a memory BIO is to behave in the same way as a file this second behaviour
is needed. This must be done by calling:
BIO_set_mem_eof_return(bio, 0);
See the manual pages for more details.
===============================================================================