Java Keytool Commands

Java Keytool Commands for Creating and Importing

These commands allow you to generate a new Java Keytool keystore file, create a CSR, and import certificates. Any root or intermediate certificates will need to be imported before importing the primary certificate for your domain.

• Generate a Java keystore and key pair
  keytool -genkey -alias mydomain -keyalg RSA -keystore keystore.jks -keysize 2048
• Generate a certificate signing request (CSR) for an existing Java keystore
  keytool -certreq -alias mydomain -keystore keystore.jks -file mydomain.csr
• Import a root or intermediate CA certificate to an existing Java keystore
  keytool -import -trustcacerts -alias root -file Thawte.crt -keystore keystore.jks
• Import a signed primary certificate to an existing Java keystore
  keytool -import -trustcacerts -alias mydomain -file mydomain.crt -keystore keystore.jks
• Generate a keystore and self-signed certificate (see How to Create a Self Signed Certificate using Java Keytool for more info)
  keytool -genkey -keyalg RSA -alias selfsigned -keystore keystore.jks -storepass password -validity 360 -keysize 2048

Java Keytool Commands for Checking

If you need to check the information within a certificate, or Java keystore, use these commands.

• Check a stand-alone certificate
  keytool -printcert -v -file mydomain.crt
• Check which certificates are in a Java keystore
  keytool -list -v -keystore keystore.jks
• Check a particular keystore entry using an alias
  keytool -list -v -keystore keystore.jks -alias mydomain

Other Java Keytool Commands

• Delete a certificate from a Java Keytool keystore
  keytool -delete -alias mydomain -keystore keystore.jks
• Change a Java keystore password
  keytool -storepasswd -new new_storepass -keystore keystore.jks
• Export a certificate from a keystore
  keytool -export -alias mydomain -file mydomain.crt -keystore keystore.jks
• List Trusted CA Certs
  keytool -list -v -keystore $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/security/cacerts
• Import New CA into Trusted Certs
  keytool -import -trustcacerts -file /path/to/ca/ca.pem -alias CA_ALIAS -keystore $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/security/cacerts