VB.NET

Save a Private Key as a PKCS #8 DER File

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.SavePkcs8File method, which saves the key as unencrypted PKCS #8 DER to a file. The only argument is the destination path.

Note: The file paths are relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the paths appropriate to your own environment.

Background: The file-writing counterpart to GetPkcs8ENC/GetPkcs8Pem, producing a compact binary .der in the algorithm-independent PKCS #8 container. Because it is unencrypted, the file itself is the only protection for the key — store it with restrictive permissions, or use SavePkcs8EncryptedFile to add a passphrase.

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VB.NET

Dim success As Boolean = False

'  Load a private key to export.
Dim privKey As New Chilkat.PrivateKey
success = privKey.LoadPemFile("qa_data/private.pem")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(privKey.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If


'  Save as unencrypted PKCS #8 DER.
success = privKey.SavePkcs8File("qa_output/private_pkcs8.der")
If (success = False) Then
    Debug.WriteLine(privKey.LastErrorText)
    Exit Sub
End If

Debug.WriteLine("Saved.")