When starting httpd ( apache server ) it may ask a password to load the SSL certificate. And you may receive a message like given below

———————————-

[root@server SSL]# /etc/init.d/httpd restart
Stopping httpd:                                            [  OK  ]
Starting httpd: Apache/2.2.11 mod_ssl/2.2.11 (Pass Phrase Dialog)
Some of your private key files are encrypted for security reasons.
In order to read them you have to provide the pass phrases.

Server www.example.com:443 (RSA)
Enter pass phrase:

—————————————-

When apache needs to load the ssl certificate it needs to read the private key and the crt file.  In some case if you encrypted the private key , in order to read the key file you need to provide the password that you used while created the private key.  If you wish to avoid this Pass Phrase Dialog you can decrypt the Key file  in the following way.

PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF ORIGINAL KEY FILE

cp www.example.com.key www.example.com.key.BAK
openssl rsa -in www.example.com.key -out www.example.com.key

Now start apache server ( httpd service ) and this time  you will not get the Pass Phrase Dialog