# Generate ECDSA root key and certificate

Source: [https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70014-11/topic/generate-ecdsa-root-key-and-certificate.html](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70014-11/topic/generate-ecdsa-root-key-and-certificate.html)

ECDSA offers superior security and performance compared to the RSA signature
        algorithm. As a result, the default configuration in Sectools supports ECDSA
        signing.

With ECDSA, two types of keys are created: 
- The public key, which is accessible to everyone.
- The private key, which is only known to the owner of the key pair

Note: To avoid copying any special
                characters along with the commands, it is recommended to manually type the commands
                on the command prompt or a notepad before execution.

You can modify and run the following ECDSA-specific commands to generate the root key and
            certificate:

1. Navigate to the `OEM-KEYS` directory and generatethe ECDSA root key
                and certificate: 

        cd ./OEM-KEYS
        
        openssl ecparam -genkey -name secp384r1 -outform PEM -out qpsa_rootca.keyCopy to clipboard

        openssl req -new -key qpsa_rootca.key -sha384 -out rootca_pem.crt -subj '/C=US/CN=Generated OEM Root CA/OU=CDMA Technologies/OU=General Use OEM Key (OEM should update all fields)/L=San Diego/O=SecTools/ST=California' -config opensslroot.cfg -x509 -days 7300 -set_serial 1Copy to clipboard

        openssl x509 -in rootca_pem.crt -inform PEM -out qpsa_rootca.cer -outform DERCopy to clipboard
2. Generate the intermediate certificate authority (CA) key pair and certificate:

        openssl ecparam -genkey -name secp384r1 -outform PEM -qpsa_attestca.keyCopy to clipboard

        openssl req -new -key qpsa_attestca.key -out ca.CSR -subj '/C=US/ST=California/CN=Generated OEM Attestation CA/O=SecTools/L=San Diego' -config opensslroot.cfg -sha384Copy to clipboard

        openssl x509 -req -in ca.CSR -CA rootca_pem.crt -CAkey qpsa_rootca.key - out ca_pem.crt -set_serial 1 -days 7300 -extfile v3.ext -sha384 -CAcreateserialCopy to clipboard

        openssl x509 -inform PEM -in ca_pem.crt -outform DER -out qpsa_attestca.cerCopy to clipboard

**Parent Topic:** [Enable secure boot](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-70014-11/topic/enable-secure-boot.html)

Last Published: Aug 06, 2024

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