How to use makecert.exe

How to use makecert.exe to create a self-signed test certificate that can be used with IIS for SSL

Problem: Special options must be specified with makecert.exe, to create a self-signed certificate that can be used with IIS (Microsoft Internet Information Server).

Note: Microsoft recommends to install and use the "Certificate Server" to generate an SSL test certificate (Q216907), instead of using makecert.exe. But using makecert is simpler.

Solution:

The following command can be used to create and import a self-signed SSL test certificate:

makecert -r -pe -n "CN=www.yourserver.com" -b 01/01/2000
-e 01/01/2036 -eku 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1 -ss my -sr localMachine
-sky exchange -sp "Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider" -sy 12

To install this certificate in IIS 5.0, open the IIS "Web Site Properties", "Directory Security", "Server Certificate...", "Assign an existing certificate" and select the new certificate from the list.

Note: Older versions of makecert.exe do not support the "-pe" option, which makes the private key exportable. If you have an old version of makecert.exe, you can omit the "-pe" option, but then the certificate cannot be exported including the private key.

(The October 2002 version of the Platform SDK (build 3718.1) contains a new version of makecert.exe (5.131) that supports the "-pe" option. The .NET Framework SDK 1.0 of 2002-03-19 contains an old version of makecert.exe that does not support the "-pe" option).

If the private key is exportable, you can export the certificate together with the private key into a PFX (PKCS #12) file as described in Q232136.

Note: SSL server certificates for IIS are stored in the "Personal" ("My") certificate store of the "computer account" ("localMachine"). The "Certificates" snap-in of the Microsoft Management Console (mmc.exe) must be used to manage these certificates. The normal certificate management window (accessible via "Internet Properties" / "Content" / "Certificates" or via "Control Panel" / "Users and Passwords" / "Advanced" / "Certificates") cannot be used.

Note: To create a key with more than 512 bits, use the "-len" parameter of makecert.exe.