* Why does the linker complain about undefined symbols?
* Where can I get a compiled version of OpenSSL?
* I've compiled a program under Windows and it crashes: why?
+* How do I read or write a DER encoded buffer using the ASN1 functions?
+* I've tried using <M_some_evil_pkcs12_macro> and I get errors why?
* I've called <some function> and it fails, why?
* I just get a load of numbers for the error output, what do they mean?
* Why do I get errors about unknown algorithms?
* Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: command not found"?
* Why does the OpenSSL test fail with "bc: 1 no implemented"?
* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Alpha True64 Unix?
+* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail with "ar: command not found"?
+* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Win32 with VC++?
+* Why aren't tools like 'autoconf' and 'libtool' used?
* Which is the current version of OpenSSL?
The current version is available from <URL: http://www.openssl.org>.
-OpenSSL 0.9.5a was released on April 1st, 2000.
+OpenSSL 0.9.6 was released on September 24th, 2000.
In addition to the current stable release, you can also access daily
snapshots of the OpenSSL development version at <URL:
You can configure OpenSSL so as not to use RC5 and IDEA by using
./config no-rc5 no-idea
-Until the RSA patent expires, U.S. users may want to use
- ./config no-rc5 no-idea no-rsa
-
-Please note that you will *not* be able to communicate with most of
-the popular web browsers without RSA support.
-
* Is OpenSSL thread-safe?
adds a /dev/random device and make sure it gets used, usually through
$RANDFILE. There are probably similar patches for the other Solaris
versions. However, be warned that /dev/random is usually a blocking
-device, which may have som effects on OpenSSL.
+device, which may have some effects on OpenSSL.
* Why does the linker complain about undefined symbols?
first BIO related read or write operation.
+* How do I read or write a DER encoded buffer using the ASN1 functions?
+
+You have two options. You can either use a memory BIO in conjunction
+with the i2d_XXX_bio() or d2i_XXX_bio() functions or you can use the
+i2d_XXX(), d2i_XXX() functions directly. Since these are often the
+cause of grief here are some code fragments using PKCS7 as an example:
+
+unsigned char *buf, *p;
+int len;
+
+len = i2d_PKCS7(p7, NULL);
+buf = OPENSSL_malloc(len); /* or Malloc, error checking omitted */
+p = buf;
+i2d_PKCS7(p7, &p);
+
+At this point buf contains the len bytes of the DER encoding of
+p7.
+
+The opposite assumes we already have len bytes in buf:
+
+unsigned char *p;
+p = buf;
+p7 = d2i_PKCS7(NULL, &p, len);
+
+At this point p7 contains a valid PKCS7 structure of NULL if an error
+occurred. If an error occurred ERR_print_errors(bio) should give more
+information.
+
+The reason for the temporary variable 'p' is that the ASN1 functions
+increment the passed pointer so it is ready to read or write the next
+structure. This is often a cause of problems: without the temporary
+variable the buffer pointer is changed to point just after the data
+that has been read or written. This may well be uninitialized data
+and attempts to free the buffer will have unpredictable results
+because it no longer points to the same address.
+
+
+* I've tried using <M_some_evil_pkcs12_macro> and I get errors why?
+
+This usually happens when you try compiling something using the PKCS#12
+macros with a C++ compiler. There is hardly ever any need to use the
+PKCS#12 macros in a program, it is much easier to parse and create
+PKCS#12 files using the PKCS12_parse() and PKCS12_create() functions
+documented in doc/openssl.txt and with examples in demos/pkcs12. The
+'pkcs12' application has to use the macros because it prints out
+debugging information.
+
+
* I've called <some function> and it fails, why?
Before submitting a report or asking in one of the mailing lists, you
level chosen by the configuration process. When the above is done, do the
test and installation and you're set.
+
+* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail with "ar: command not found"?
+
+Getting this message is quite usual on Solaris 2, because Sun has hidden
+away 'ar' and other development commands in directories that aren't in
+$PATH by default. One of those directories is '/usr/ccs/bin'. The
+quickest way to fix this is to do the following (it assumes you use sh
+or any sh-compatible shell):
+
+----- snip:start -----
+ PATH=${PATH}:/usr/ccs/bin; export PATH
+----- snip:end -----
+
+and then redo the compilation. What you should really do is make sure
+'/usr/ccs/bin' is permanently in your $PATH, for example through your
+'.profile' (again, assuming you use a sh-compatible shell).
+
+
+* Why does the OpenSSL compilation fail on Win32 with VC++?
+
+Sometimes, you may get reports from VC++ command line (cl) that it
+can't find standard include files like stdio.h and other weirdnesses.
+One possible cause is that the environment isn't correctly set up.
+To solve that problem, one should run VCVARS32.BAT which is found in
+the 'bin' subdirectory of the VC++ installation directory (somewhere
+under 'Program Files'). This needs to be done prior to running NMAKE,
+and the changes are only valid for the current DOS session.
+
+
+* Why aren't tools like 'autoconf' and 'libtool' used?
+
+autoconf is a nice tool, but is unfortunately very Unix-centric.
+Although one can come up with solution to have ports keep in track,
+there's also some work needed for that, and can be quite painful at
+times. If there was a 'autoconf'-like tool that generated perl
+scripts or something similarly general, it would probably be used
+in OpenSSL much earlier.
+
+libtool has repeatadly been reported by some members of the OpenSSL
+development and others to be a pain to use. So far, those in the
+development team who have said anything about this have expressed
+a wish to avoid libtool for that reason.
+
projects / openssl.git / blobdiff