create a .pem file for SSL Certificate

Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM) files are concatenated certificate containers frequently used in certificate installations when multiple certificates that form a complete chain are being imported as a single file. They are a defined standard in RFCs 1421 through 1424. They can be thought of as a layered container of chained certificates. A .pem file is a container format that may just include the public certificate or the entire certificate chain (private key, public key, root certificates):

• Private Key
• Server Certificate (crt, puplic key)
• (optional) Intermediate CA and/or bundles if signed by a 3rd party

How to create a self-signed PEM file

openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -new -nodes -x509 -days 3650 -keyout key.pem -out cert.pem

How to create a PEM file from existing certificate files that form a chain

• (optional) Remove the password from the Private Key by following the steps listed below:

  openssl rsa -in server.key -out nopassword.key

  Note: Enter the pass phrase of the Private Key.
   
• Combine the private key, public certificate and any 3rd party intermediate certificate files:

  cat nopassword.key > server.pem
  cat server.crt >> server.pem

  Note: Repeat this step as needed for third-party certificate chain files, bundles, etc:

  cat intermediate.crt >> server.pem