title: Problems with openSSL command line
body: <p>I am working with O'Reilly's book on SSL, which uses openSSL for its examples.</p>
  
  <p>After creating a configuration file:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[ ca ]
  default_ca = mobileCA
  
  [ mobileCA ]
  dir = /users/crodgers/src/sds2mobile/Server/CA
  certificate = $dir/cacert.pem
  database = $dir/index.txt
  new_certs_dir = $dir/certs
  private_key = $dir/private/key.pem
  serial = $dir/serial
  
  default_crl_days = 7
  default_days = 365
  default_md = md5
  
  policy = mobile_CA_policy
  x509_extensions = certificate_extensions
  
  [ mobileCA_policy ]
  commonName = SDS/2 Mobile Certificate
  stateOrProvinceName = Nebraska
  countryName = US
  emailAddress = designdatamobiledevelopment@gmail.com
  organizationName = Design Data
  
  [ certificate_extensions ]
  basicConstraints = CA:false
  
  [ req ]
  default_bits = 2048
  default_keyfile = /users/crodgers/src/sds2mobile/Server/CA/private/key.pem
  default_md = md5
  
  prompt = no
  distinguished_name = root_ca_distinguished_name
  
  x509_extensions = root_ca_extensions
  
  [ root_ca_distinguished_name ]
  commonName = Root Certificate
  stateOrProvinceName = Nebraska
  countryName = US
  emailAddress = designdatamobiledevelopment@gmail.com
  organizationName = Design Data
  
  [ root_ca_extensions ]
  basicConstraints = CA:true
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The user is instructed to enter the following command:</p>
  
  <pre><code>openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa -out cacert.pem -outform PEM
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This is supposed to create a self-signed root certificate.</p>
  
  <p>This command gives me the -help output. I'm assuming something in the command is incorrect, but have been unable to narrow down what. </p>
  
  <p>Currently working in Ubuntu 10.04 and openSSL 0.9.8k</p>