How to install OpenSSL on Ubuntu

OpenSSL is an open source implementation of the SSL and TLS protocols. The core library (written in the C programming language) implements the basic cryptographic functions and provides various utility functions. Wrappers allowing the use of the OpenSSL library in a variety of computer languages are available.

Versions are available for most Unix-like operating systems (including Solaris, Linux, Mac OS X and the four open source BSD operating systems), OpenVMS and Microsoft Windows. IBM provides a port for the System i (iSeries/AS400). OpenSSL is based on SSLeay by Eric A. Young and Tim Hudson, development of which unofficially ended around December 1998, when Tim and Eric both moved to work for RSA Security.

OpenSSL is a library that provides cryptographic functionality to applications such as secure web servers. Be sure to read the documentation of the application you want to use. The INSTALL file explains how to install this library. In addition, you can read the most current versions at http://www.openssl.org/docs/.

Download the latest package from http://www.openssl.org/source/ or alternatively you can also download them via FTP from the OpenSSL FTP area under ftp://ftp.openssl.org/source/

Download the package directly to your box & MD5 package, the MD5 hash to verify the integrity of the downloaded file

As root (for privileges on destination directory), run the following or else you can use "sudo" command

#sudo wget http://www.openssl.org/source/openssl-0.9.8h.tar.gz

#sudo wget http://www.openssl.org/source/openssl-0.9.8h.tar.gz.md5

#md5sum openssl-0.9.8h.tar.gz
#cat openssl-0.9.8h.tar.gz.md5

The last two commands (above) generate two strings of alpha-numeric characters. Check to see if both strings are identical or not. If not, repeat the steps above from "Downloading OpenSSL". If yes, your file has been downloaded properly. Please note that if you are using openssl for a highly secure/critical setup (or for any other reason) then you should also check the PGP signatures (not covered in this tutorial for simplicity).

Extracting files from the downloaded package:

#sudo gunzip openssl-0.9.8h.tar.gz
#sudo tar -xvf openssl-0.9.8h.tar

Now, enter the directory where the package is extracted.

#cd openssl-0.9.8e

Configuring OpenSSL:
#sudo ./config --prefix=/usr/local/openssl --openssldir=/usr/local/openssl

Replace "/usr/local/openssl" above with the directory path where you want to copy the files and folders. Note: check for any error message.

Compiling OpenSSL:
#sudo make

Note: check for any error message.

Installing OpenSSL:
#sudo make install

Note: check for any error messages.

OpenSSL has been successfully installed.