Helix Core is now P4. Product user interfaces will be updated soon. Learn more >>

P4 CLI Documentation | 2026.1

# P4SSLDIR

Directory containing a server’s SSL/TLS keys and/or certificates.

## Usage notes

Used by Client? | Used by Server? | Command-Line Alternative | Can be set in P4CONFIG file?
--- | --- | --- | ---
No | Yes | None | No

## Value if not explicitly set

Operating System | Value
--- | ---
All | If `P4SSLDIR` is set to any value, the directory named by `P4SSLDIR` stores the files that contain server ssl credentials. If this variable is unset, or if the permissions of `P4SSLDIR` or its contents are incorrect, the service will not start in SSL/TLS mode.

## Examples

`/path/to/dir`

## Notes

All P4 Server processes (`p4d`, `p4p`, `p4broker`) that accept SSL/TLS connections require a certificate and key pair (stored in this directory) on startup. In order for any of these processes to start, the following additional conditions must be met:

- `P4SSLDIR` must be set to a valid directory.
- The `P4SSLDIR` directory must be owned by the same userid as the one running the P4 Server, proxy, or broker process. The `P4SSLDIR` directory must not be readable by any other user. On UNIX, for example, the directory’s permissions must be set to 0700 (`drwx------`) or 0500 (`dr-x------`).

- Two files, named `privatekey.txt` and `certificate.txt`, must exist in `P4SSLDIR`.

  These files correspond to the PEM-encoded unencrypted private key and certificate used for the SSL/TLS connection. They must be owned by the userid that runs the P4 Server, proxy, and broker process, and must also have their permissions set such as to make them unreadable by other users. On UNIX, for example, the files' permissions must be set to 0600 (`-rw-------`) or 0400 (`-r--------`).

  You can supply your own private key and certificate, or you can use `p4d -Gc` to generate a key and certificate pair. For more information, see Key and certificate generation in the P4 Server Administration Documentation.

- To generate a fingerprint from your server’s private key and certificate, run `p4d -Gf`. (`P4SSLDIR` must be configured with the correct file names and permissions, and the current date must be valid for the certificate.)

  After you have communicated this fingerprint to your end users, your end users can then compare the fingerprint the server offers with the fingerprint you have provided. If the two fingerprints match, users can use `p4 trust` to add the fingerprint to their `P4TRUST` files.

Your search for returned results