<para>
If the server attempts to verify the identity of the
client by requesting the client's leaf certificate,
- <application>libpq</application> will send the certificates stored in
+ <application>libpq</application> will send the certificate(s) stored in
file <filename>~/.postgresql/postgresql.crt</filename> in the user's home
directory. The certificates must chain to the root certificate trusted
by the server. A matching
private key file <filename>~/.postgresql/postgresql.key</filename> must also
- be present. The private
- key file must not allow any access to world or group; achieve this by the
- command <command>chmod 0600 ~/.postgresql/postgresql.key</command>.
+ be present.
On Microsoft Windows these files are named
<filename>%APPDATA%\postgresql\postgresql.crt</filename> and
- <filename>%APPDATA%\postgresql\postgresql.key</filename>, and there
- is no special permissions check since the directory is presumed secure.
+ <filename>%APPDATA%\postgresql\postgresql.key</filename>.
The location of the certificate and key files can be overridden by the
- connection parameters <literal>sslcert</literal> and <literal>sslkey</literal> or the
+ connection parameters <literal>sslcert</literal>
+ and <literal>sslkey</literal>, or by the
environment variables <envar>PGSSLCERT</envar> and <envar>PGSSLKEY</envar>.
</para>
+ <para>
+ On Unix systems, the permissions on the private key file must disallow
+ any access to world or group; achieve this by a command such as
+ <command>chmod 0600 ~/.postgresql/postgresql.key</command>.
+ Alternatively, the file can be owned by root and have group read access
+ (that is, <literal>0640</literal> permissions). That setup is intended
+ for installations where certificate and key files are managed by the
+ operating system. The user of <application>libpq</application> should
+ then be made a member of the group that has access to those certificate
+ and key files. (On Microsoft Windows, there is no file permissions
+ check, since the <filename>%APPDATA%\postgresql</filename> directory is
+ presumed secure.)
+ </para>
+
<para>
The first certificate in <filename>postgresql.crt</filename> must be the
client's certificate because it must match the client's private key.