def _get_basic_info(ca_name, cert, ca_dir=None):
    '''
    Get basic info to write out to the index.txt
    '''
    if ca_dir is None:
        ca_dir = '{0}/{1}'.format(_cert_base_path(), ca_name)

    index_file = "{0}/index.txt".format(ca_dir)

    cert = _read_cert(cert)
    expire_date = _four_digit_year_to_two_digit(_get_expiration_date(cert))
    serial_number = format(cert.get_serial_number(), 'X')

    # gotta prepend a /
    subject = '/'

    # then we can add the rest of the subject
    subject += '/'.join(
        ['{0}={1}'.format(
            x, y
        ) for x, y in cert.get_subject().get_components()]
    )
    subject += '\n'

    return (index_file, expire_date, serial_number, subject)
Get basic info to write out to the index.txt