# Need help with ERROR: OpenSSL::PKey::RSAError: private key needed

**URL:** https://discourse.chef.io/t/need-help-with-error-openssl-pkey-rsaerror-private-key-needed/6014
**Category:** Chef Infra (archive)
**Created:** [November 6, 2014, 11:28am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/need-help-with-error-openssl-pkey-rsaerror-private-key-needed/6014 "2014-11-06T11:28:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![koteswara\_rao\_Sakham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d07c76/32.png) [@koteswara\_rao\_Sakham](https://discourse.chef.io/u/koteswara_rao_Sakham)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2014, 11:28am UTC](https://discourse.chef.io/t/need-help-with-error-openssl-pkey-rsaerror-private-key-needed/6014/1 "2014-11-06T11:28:17Z")

</div>

Hi,  
Im getting the following error with knife user list  
ERROR: OpenSSL::PKey::RSAError: private key needed.

i have downloaded the pem files from web GUI. have placed knife and pem  
files(downloaded from webGUI).

I’m not able to find pem files at /etc/chef/ in chefserver. please guide  
me, are these pem files different from the pem files downloaded from Web GUI

Regards,  
Sakhamuri.