New-SelfSignedCertificate

Creates a new self-signed certificate for testing purposes.

Syntax

New-SelfSignedCertificate
   [-DnsName <String[]>]
   [-CloneCert <Certificate>]
   [-CertStoreLocation <String>]
   [-WhatIf]
   [-Confirm]
   [<CommonParameters>]

Description

The New-SelfSignedCertificate cmdlet creates a self-signed certificate for testing purposes. Using the CloneCert parameter, a test certificate can be created based on an existing certificate with all settings copied from the original certificate except for the public key. A new key of the same algorithm and length will be created.

If an existing certificate is not being cloned, then an SSL server certificate with the following default settings is created:

-- Subject: Empty

-- Key: RSA 2048

-- EKUs: Client Authentication and Server Authentication

-- Key Usage: Digital Signature, Key Encipherment (a0)

-- Validity Period: One year

Delegation may be required when using this cmdlet with Windows PowerShell remoting and changing user configuration.

Examples

EXAMPLE 1

PS C:\> New-SelfSignedCertificate -DnsName www.fabrikam.com, www.contoso.com -CertStoreLocation cert:\LocalMachine\My

This example creates a self-signed SSL server certificate in the computer MY store with the Subject Alternative Name set to www.fabrikam.com, www.contoso.com and Subject and Issuer name set to www.fabrikam.com.

EXAMPLE 2

PS C:\> Set-Location -Path cert:\LocalMachine\My
PS C:\> $copyOf = (Get-ChildItem -Path E42DBC3B3F2771990A9B3E35D0C3C422779DACD7)
PS C:\> New-SelfSignedCertificate -CloneCert $copyOf

This example creates a copy of the certificate specified by the CloneCert parameter and puts it in the computer MY store.

Parameters

-CertStoreLocation

Specifies the certificate store in which a new certificate will be stored. The current path is the default value.

Type:String
Position:Named
Default value:.
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-CloneCert

Identifies the certificate to copy when creating a new certificate. The certificate being cloned can be identified by an X509 certificate or the file path in the certificate provider. When this parameter is used, all fields and extensions of the certificate will be inherited except the public key (a new key of the same algorithm and length will be created) and the NotAfter and NotBefore fields (the validity period for the NotBefore field is set to ten minutes in the past).

Type:Certificate
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:True
Accept wildcard characters:False

-Confirm

Prompts you for confirmation before running the cmdlet.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:cf
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-DnsName

Specifies one or more DNS names to put into the Subject Alternative Name extension of the certificate when a certificate to be copied is not specified via the CloneCert parameter. The first DNS name is also saved as Subject Name and Issuer Name.

Type:String[]
Position:Named
Default value:None
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

-WhatIf

Shows what would happen if the cmdlet runs. The cmdlet is not run.

Type:SwitchParameter
Aliases:wi
Position:Named
Default value:False
Required:False
Accept pipeline input:False
Accept wildcard characters:False

Inputs

Microsoft.CertificateServices.Commands.Certificate

The Certificate object can either be provided as a Path object to a certificate or a X509Certificate2 object.

Outputs

X509Certificate2

A X509Certificate2 object for the certificate that has been created.