HEELPBOOK - Differences between PEM, DER, P7B/PKCS#7, PFX/PKCS#12 (PKI) ####################

Different Platforms & Devices requires SSL certificates in different formats:

* A Windows Server uses .pfx files;

* An Apache Server uses .crt, .cer files;


#### NOTE: Only way to tell the difference between PEM .cer and DER .cer is to open the file in a text editor and look for the BEGIN/END statements.

##### PEM Format

It is the most common format that Certificate Authorities issue certificates in. It contains the "--BEGIN CERTIFICATE--" and "--END CERTIFICATE--" statements.

Several PEM certificates and even the Private key can be included in one file, one below the other. But most platforms (example: Apache) expects the certificates and Private key to be in separate files.

*They are Base64 encoded ASCII files;

*They have extensions such as .pem, .crt, .cer, .key;

*Apache and similar servers uses PEM format certificates;


##### DER Format

It is a Binary form of ASCII PEM format certificate. All types of Certificates & Private Keys can be encoded in DER format.

* They are Binary format files;

* They have extensions .cer & .der;

* DER is typically used in Java platform;


##### P7B/PKCS#7

They contain "--BEGIN PKCS--" & "--END PKCS7--" statements. It can contain only Certificates & Chain certificates but not the Private key.

They are Base64 encoded ASCII files;
They have extensions .p7b, .p7c;
Several platforms supports it. For example: Windows OS, Java Tomcat;


##### PFX/PKCS#12

They are used for storing the Server certificate, any Intermediate certificates & Private key in one encryptable file.

* They are Binary format files;

* They have extensions .pfx, .p12;

* Typically used on Windows OS to import and export certificates and Private keys;


############ ARTICLE INFO #############

Article Month: December
Article Date: 20/12/2012
Permalink: http://heelpbook.altervista.org/2012/differences-between-pem-der-p7bpkcs7-pfxpkcs12-pki-certification-infrastructure/
Source: http://myonlineusb.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/what-are-the-differences-between-pem-der-p7bpkcs7-pfxpkcs12-certificates/
Language: English

View more articles on: http://www.heelpbook.net/
Follow us on Facebook: http://it-it.facebook.com/pages/HeelpBook/100790870008832
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/HeelpBook
Follow us on RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Heelpbook
Follow us on Delicious: http://delicious.com/heelpbook
Linkedin: http://it.linkedin.com/pub/stefano-maggi/27/73a/b20
Google+ : https://plus.google.com/116990277568167008289/posts