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VCert CLI for Venafi as a Service

Venafi VCert is a command line tool designed to generate keys and simplify certificate acquisition, eliminating the need to write code that's required to interact with the Venafi REST API. VCert is available in 32- and 64-bit versions for Linux, Windows, and macOS.

This article applies to the latest version of VCert CLI, which you can download here.

Quick Links

Use these links to quickly jump to a relevant section lower on this page:

Detailed usage examples
Options for requesting a certificate using the enroll action
Options for downloading a certificate using the pickup action
Options for renewing a certificate using the renew action
Options common to the enroll, pickup, and renew actions
Options for applying certificate policy using the setpolicy action
Options for viewing certificate policy using the getpolicy action
Options for registering and obtaining a new API key using the getcred action
Options for generating a new key pair and CSR using the gencsr action (for manual enrollment)

Prerequisites

Review these prerequistes to get started. You'll need the following:

Verify that the Venafi as a Service REST API at https://api.venafi.cloud is accessible from the system where VCert will be run.
You have successfully registered for a Venafi as a Service account, have been granted at least the "Resource Owner" role, and know your API key. You can use the getcred action to register and obtain an API key but you will need an administrator to update your role if there are already 3 or more users registered for your company in Venafi as a Service.
A CA Account and Issuing Template exist and have been configured with:
1. Recommended Settings values for:
  1. Organizational Unit (OU)
  2. Organization (O)
  3. City/Locality (L)
  4. State/Province (ST)
  5. Country (C)
2. Issuing Rules that:
  1. (Recommended) Limits Common Name and Subject Alternative Names that are allowed by your organization
  2. (Recommended) Restricts the Key Length to 2048 or higher
  3. (Recommended) Does not allow Private Key Reuse
An Application exists where you are among the owners, and you know the Application Name.
An Issuing Template is assigned to the Application, and you know its API Alias.

📌 NOTE: if you're just testing, you can skip the last 3 items. Simply specify "Default" for the issuing template alias portion of your zone (e.g., "My Application\Default") and an application with the name you specified will be automatically created for you.

General Command Line Parameters

The following options apply to the enroll, pickup, and renew actions:

Command	Description
`--config`	Use to specify INI configuration file containing connection details. Available parameters: `cloud_apikey`, `cloud_zone`, `trust_bundle`, `test_mode`
`--k`	Use to specify your API key for Venafi as a Service. Example: -k aaaaaaaa-bbbb-cccc-dddd-eeeeeeeeeeee
`--no-prompt`	Use to exclude password prompts. If you enable the prompt and you enter incorrect information, an error is displayed. This option is useful with scripting.
`--test-mode`	Use to test operations without connecting to Venafi as a Service. This option is useful for integration tests where the test environment does not have access to Venafi as a Service. Default is false.
`--test-mode-delay`	Use to specify the maximum number of seconds for the random test-mode connection delay. Default is 15 (seconds).
`--timeout`	Use to specify the maximum amount of time to wait in seconds for a certificate to be processed by VaaS. Default is 120 (seconds).
`--trust-bundle`	Use to specify a file with PEM formatted certificates to be used as trust anchors when communicating with VaaS. Generally not needed because VaaS is secured by a publicly trusted certificate but it may be needed if your organization requires VCert to traverse a proxy server. VCert uses the trust store of your operating system for this purpose if not specified. Example: `--trust-bundle /path-to/bundle.pem`
`--verbose`	Use to increase the level of logging detail, which is helpful when troubleshooting issues.

Environment Variables

As an alternative to specifying API key, trust bundle, and/or zone via the command line or in a config file, VCert supports supplying those values using environment variables VCERT_APIKEY, VCERT_TRUST_BUNDLE, and VCERT_ZONE respectively.

Certificate Request Parameters

vcert enroll -k <api key> --cn <common name> -z <application name\issuing template alias>

Options:

Command	Description
`--app-info`	Use to identify the application requesting the certificate with details like vendor name and vendor product. Example: `--app-info "Venafi VCert CLI"`
`--cert-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the end-entity certificate. Example: `--cert-file /path-to/example.crt`
`--chain`	Use to include the certificate chain in the output, and to specify where to place it in the file. Options: `root-last` (default), `root-first`, `ignore`
`--chain-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the root and intermediate certificates applicable to the end-entity certificate.
`--cn`	Use to specify the common name (CN). This is required for Enrollment.
`--csr`	Use to specify the CSR and private key location. Options: `local` (default), `service`, `file` - local: private key and CSR will be generated locally - service: private key and CSR will be generated by a VSatellite in Venafi as a Service - file: CSR will be read from a file by name Example: `--csr file:/path-to/example.req`
`--file`	Use to specify a name and location of an output file that will contain the private key and certificates when they are not written to their own files using `--key-file`, `--cert-file`, and/or `--chain-file`. Example: `--file /path-to/keycert.pem`
`--format`	Use to specify the output format. The `--file` option must be used with the PKCS#12 and JKS formats to specify the keystore file. JKS format also requires `--jks-alias` and at least one password (see `--key-password` and `--jks-password`) Options: `pem` (default), `json`, `pkcs12`, `jks`
`--jks-alias`	Use to specify the alias of the entry in the JKS file when `--format jks` is used
`--jks-password`	Use to specify the keystore password of the JKS file when `--format jks` is used. If not specified, the `--key-password` value is used for both the key and store passwords
`--key-curve`	Use to specify the elliptic curve for key generation when `--key-type` is ECDSA. Options: `p256` (default), `p384`, `p521`
`--key-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the private key. Example: `--key-file /path-to/example.key`
`--key-password`	Use to specify a password for encrypting the private key. For a non-encrypted private key, specify `--no-prompt` without specifying this option. You can specify the password using one of three methods: at the command line, when prompted, or by using a password file. Example: `--key-password file:/path-to/passwd.txt`
`--key-size`	Use to specify a key size for RSA keys. Default is 2048.
`--key-type`	Use to specify the key algorithm. Options: `rsa` (default), `ecdsa`
`--no-pickup`	Use to disable the feature of VCert that repeatedly tries to retrieve the issued certificate. When this is used you must run VCert again in pickup mode to retrieve the certificate that was requested.
`--pickup-id-file`	Use to specify a file name where the unique identifier for the certificate will be stored for subsequent use by pickup, renew, and revoke actions. Default is to write the Pickup ID to STDOUT.
`--san-dns`	Use to specify a DNS Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-dns one.example.com` `--san-dns two.example.com`
`--san-email`	Use to specify an Email Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-email me@example.com` `--san-email you@example.com`
`--san-ip`	Use to specify an IP Address Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-ip 10.20.30.40` `--san-ip 192.168.192.168`
`--san-uri`	Use to specify a Uniform Resource Indicator Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-uri spiffe://workload1.example.com` `--san-uri spiffe://workload2.example.com`
`--valid-days`	Use to specify the number of days a certificate needs to be valid. Example: `--valid-days 30`
`-z`	Use to specify the name of the Application to which the certificate will be assigned and the API Alias of the Issuing Template that will handle the certificate request. Example: `-z "Business App\\Enterprise CIT"`

Certificate Retrieval Parameters

vcert pickup -k <api key> [--pickup-id <request id> | --pickup-id-file <file name>]

Options:

Command	Description
`--cert-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the end-entity certificate. Example: `--cert-file /path-to/example.crt`
`--chain`	Use to include the certificate chain in the output, and to specify where to place it in the file. Options: `root-last` (default), `root-first`, `ignore`
`--chain-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the root and intermediate certificates applicable to the end-entity certificate.
`--file`	Use to specify a name and location of an output file that will contain certificates when they are not written to their own files using `--cert-file` and/or `--chain-file`. Example: `--file /path-to/keycert.pem`
`--format`	Use to specify the output format. Options: `pem` (default), `json`
`--pickup-id`	Use to specify the unique identifier of the certificate returned by the enroll or renew actions if `--no-pickup` was used or a timeout occurred. Required when `--pickup-id-file` is not specified.
`--pickup-id-file`	Use to specify a file name that contains the unique identifier of the certificate returned by the enroll or renew actions if --no-pickup was used or a timeout occurred. Required when `--pickup-id` is not specified.

Certificate Renewal Parameters

vcert renew -k <api key> [--id <request id> | --thumbprint <sha1 thumb>]

Options:

Command	Description
`--cert-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the end-entity certificate. Example: `--cert-file /path-to/example.crt`
`--chain`	Use to include the certificate chain in the output, and to specify where to place it in the file. Options: `root-last` (default), `root-first`, `ignore`
`--chain-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the root and intermediate certificates applicable to the end-entity certificate.
`--cn`	Use to specify the common name (CN). This is required for Enrollment.
`--csr`	Use to specify the CSR and private key location. Options: `local` (default), `service`, `file` - local: private key and CSR will be generated locally - service: private key and CSR will be generated by a VSatellite in Venafi as a Service - file: CSR will be read from a file by name Example: `--csr file:/path-to/example.req`
`--file`	Use to specify a name and location of an output file that will contain the private key and certificates when they are not written to their own files using `--key-file`, `--cert-file`, and/or `--chain-file`. Example: `--file /path-to/keycert.pem`
`--format`	Use to specify the output format. The `--file` option must be used with the PKCS#12 and JKS formats to specify the keystore file. JKS format also requires `--jks-alias` and at least one password (see `--key-password` and `--jks-password`) Options: `pem` (default), `json`, `pkcs12`, `jks`
`--id`	Use to specify the unique identifier of the certificate returned by the enroll or renew actions. Value may be specified as a string or read from a file by using the file: prefix. Example: `--id file:cert_id.txt`
`--jks-alias`	Use to specify the alias of the entry in the JKS file when `--format jks` is used
`--jks-password`	Use to specify the keystore password of the JKS file when `--format jks` is used. If not specified, the `--key-password` value is used for both the key and store passwords
`--key-curve`	Use to specify the elliptic curve for key generation when `--key-type` is ECDSA. Options: `p256` (default), `p384`, `p521`
`--key-file`	Use to specify the name and location of an output file that will contain only the private key. Example: `--key-file /path-to/example.key`
`--key-password`	Use to specify a password for encrypting the private key. For a non-encrypted private key, specify `--no-prompt` without specifying this option. You can specify the password using one of three methods: at the command line, when prompted, or by using a password file.
`--key-size`	Use to specify a key size for RSA keys. Default is 2048.
`--key-type`	Use to specify the key algorithm. Options: `rsa` (default), `ecdsa`
`--no-pickup`	Use to disable the feature of VCert that repeatedly tries to retrieve the issued certificate. When this is used you must run VCert again in pickup mode to retrieve the certificate that was requested.
`--omit-sans`	Ignore SANs in the previous certificate when preparing the renewal request. Workaround for CAs that forbid any SANs even when the SANs match those the CA automatically adds to the issued certificate.
`--pickup-id-file`	Use to specify a file name where the unique identifier for the certificate will be stored for subsequent use by `pickup`, `renew`, and `revoke` actions. By default it is written to STDOUT.
`--san-dns`	Use to specify a DNS Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-dns one.example.com` `--san-dns two.example.com`
`--san-email`	Use to specify an Email Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-email me@example.com` `--san-email you@example.com`
`--san-ip`	Use to specify an IP Address Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-ip 10.20.30.40` `--san-ip 192.168.192.168`
`--san-uri`	Use to specify a Uniform Resource Indicator Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-uri spiffe://workload1.example.com` `--san-uri spiffe://workload2.example.com`
`--thumbprint`	Use to specify the SHA1 thumbprint of the certificate to renew. Value may be specified as a string or read from the certificate file using the `file:` prefix.

Parameters for Applying Certificate Policy

vcert setpolicy -k <api key> -z <application name\issuing template alias> --file <policy specification file>

Options:

Command	Description
`--file`	Use to specify the location of the required file that contains a JSON or YAML certificate policy specification.
`--verify`	Use to verify that a policy specification is valid. `-k` and `-z` are ignored with this option.

Notes:

The Venafi certificate policy specification is documented in detail here.
The PKI Administrator role is required to apply certificate policy.
Policy (Issuing Template rules) and defaults (Issuing Template recommended settings) revert to their default state if they are not present in a policy specification applied by this action.
If the application or issuing template specified by the -z zone parameter do not exist, this action will attempt to create them with the calling user as the application owner.
This action can be used to simply create a new application and/or default issuing template by indicating those names with the -z zone parameter and applying a file that contains an empty policy (i.e. {}).
If the issuing template specified by the -z zone parameter is not already assigned to the application, this action will attempt to make that assignment.
The syntax for the certificateAuthority policy value is "CA Account Type\CA Account Name\CA Product Name" (e.g. "DIGICERT\DigiCert SSL Plus\ssl_plus"). When not present in the policy specification, certificateAuthority defaults to "BUILTIN\Built-In CA\Default Product".
The autoInstalled policy/defaults does not apply as automated installation of certificates by VaaS is not yet supported.
The ellipticCurves and serviceGenerated policy/defaults (keyPair) do not apply as ECC and central key generation are not yet supported by VaaS.
The ipAllowed, emailAllowed, uriAllowed, and upnAllowed policy (subjectAltNames) do not apply as those SAN types are not yet supported by VaaS.
If undefined key/value pairs are included in the policy specification, they will be silently ignored by this action. This would include keys that are misspelled.

Parameters for Viewing Certificate Policy

vcert getpolicy -k <api key> -z <application name\issuing template alias> [--file <policy specification file>]

Options:

Command	Description
`--file`	Use to write the retrieved certificate policy to a file in JSON format. If not specified, policy is written to STDOUT.
`--starter`	Use to generate a template policy specification to help with getting started. `-k` and `-z` are ignored with this option.

Examples

For the purposes of the following examples, assume the following:

The Venafi as a Service REST API is accessible at https://api.venafi.cloud
A user has been registered and granted at least the OP Resource Owner role and has an API key of "3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4".
A CA Account and Issuing Template have been created and configured appropriately (organization, city, state, country, key length, allowed domains, etc.).
An Application has been created with a name of Storefront to which the user has been given access, and the Issuing Template has been assigned to the Application with an API Alias of Public Trust.

Use the help to view the command line syntax for enroll:

vcert enroll -h

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate with a common name of “first-time.venafi.example” using an authentication token and have VCert prompt for the password to encrypt the private key:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --cn first-time.venafi.example

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate where the password for encrypting the private key to be generated is specified in a text file called passwd.txt:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --key-password file:passwd.txt --cn passwd-from-file.venafi.example

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate where the private key to be generated is not password encrypted:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --cn non-encrypted-key.venafi.example --no-prompt

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate using an externally generated CSR:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --csr file:/opt/pki/cert.req

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate where the certificate and private key are output using JSON syntax to a file called json.txt:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --key-password Passw0rd --cn json-to-file.venafi.example --format json --file keycert.json

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate where only the certificate and private key are output, no chain certificates:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --key-password Passw0rd --cn no-chain.venafi.example --chain ignore

Submit a request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate with three DNS subject alternative names:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --no-prompt --cn three-sans.venafi.example --san-dns first-san.venafi.example --san-dns second-san.venafi.example --san-dns third-san.venafi.example

Submit request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate where the certificate is not issued after two minutes and then subsequently retrieve that certificate after it has been issued:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --no-prompt --cn demo-pickup.venafi.example

vcert pickup -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 --pickup-id "{7428fac3-d0e8-4679-9f48-d9e867a326ca}"

Submit request to Venafi as a Service for enrolling a certificate that will be retrieved later using a Pickup ID from in a text file:

vcert enroll -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 -z "Storefront\\Public Trust" --no-prompt --cn demo-pickup.venafi.example --no-pickup -pickup-id-file pickup_id.txt

vcert pickup -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 --pickup-id-file pickup_id.txt

Submit request to Venafi as a Service for renewing a certificate using the enrollment (pickup) ID of the expiring certificate:

vcert renew -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 --id "{7428fac3-d0e8-4679-9f48-d9e867a326ca}"

Submit request to Venafi as a Service for renewing a certificate using the expiring certificate file:

vcert renew -k 3dfcc6dc-7309-4dcf-aa7c-5d7a2ee368b4 --thumbprint file:/opt/pki/demo.crt

Appendix

Registering and obtaining an API Key

vcert getcred --email <business email address>

Options:

Command	Description
`--email`	Use to specify a user's business email address. An email will be sent to this address with a link to activate the API key that is output by this action. This is required for (re)registerting with Venafi as a Service.
`--format`	Specify "json" to get more verbose JSON formatted output instead of the plain text default.
`--password`	Use to specify the user's password if it is expected the user will need to login to the Venafi as a Service web UI.

Generating a new key pair and CSR

vcert gencsr --cn <common name> -o <organization> --ou <ou1> --ou <ou2> -l <locality> --st <state> -c <country> --key-file <private key file> --csr-file <csr file>

Options:

Command	Description
`-c`	Use to specify the country (C) for the Subject DN.
`--cn`	Use to specify the common name (CN). This is required for enrollment except when providing a CSR file.
`--csr-file`	Use to specify a file name and a location where the resulting CSR file should be written. Example: `--csr-file /path-to/example.req`
`--format`	Generates the Certificate Signing Request in the specified format. Options: `pem` (default), `json` - pem: Generates the CSR in classic PEM format to be used as a file. - json: Generates the CSR in JSON format, suitable for REST API operations.
`--key-curve`	Use to specify the ECDSA key curve. Options: `p256` (default), `p384`, `p521`
`--key-file`	Use to specify a file name and a location where the resulting private key file should be written. Do not use in combination with `--csr` file. Example: `--key-file /path-to/example.key`
`--key-password`	Use to specify a password for encrypting the private key. For a non-encrypted private key, omit this option and instead specify `--no-prompt`. Example: `--key-password file:/path-to/passwd.txt`
`--key-size`	Use to specify a key size. Default is 2048.
`--key-type`	Use to specify a key type. Options: `rsa` (default), `ecdsa`
`-l`	Use to specify the city or locality (L) for the Subject DN.
`--no-prompt`	Use to suppress the private key password prompt and not encrypt the private key.
`-o`	Use to specify the organization (O) for the Subject DN.
`--ou`	Use to specify an organizational unit (OU) for the Subject DN. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--ou "Engineering"` `--ou "Quality Assurance"` ...
`--san-dns`	Use to specify a DNS Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-dns one.example.com` `--san-dns two.example.com`
`--san-email`	Use to specify an Email Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-email me@example.com` `--san-email you@example.com`
`--san-ip`	Use to specify an IP Address Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-ip 10.20.30.40` `--san-ip 192.168.192.168`
`--san-uri`	Use to specify a Uniform Resource Indicator Subject Alternative Name. To specify more than one, simply repeat this parameter for each value. Example: `--san-uri spiffe://workload1.example.com` `--san-uri spiffe://workload2.example.com`
`--st`	Use to specify the state or province (ST) for the Subject DN.

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README-CLI-CLOUD.md

README-CLI-CLOUD.md

VCert CLI for Venafi as a Service

Quick Links

Prerequisites

General Command Line Parameters

Environment Variables

Certificate Request Parameters

Certificate Retrieval Parameters

Certificate Renewal Parameters

Parameters for Applying Certificate Policy

Parameters for Viewing Certificate Policy

Examples

Appendix

Registering and obtaining an API Key

Generating a new key pair and CSR

Files

README-CLI-CLOUD.md

Latest commit

History

README-CLI-CLOUD.md

File metadata and controls

VCert CLI for Venafi as a Service

Quick Links

Prerequisites

General Command Line Parameters

Environment Variables

Certificate Request Parameters

Certificate Retrieval Parameters

Certificate Renewal Parameters

Parameters for Applying Certificate Policy

Parameters for Viewing Certificate Policy

Examples

Appendix

Registering and obtaining an API Key

Generating a new key pair and CSR