PEM file assistance

HI All,

I’ll begin by stating I’m a complete SSL nOOb. The issue I’m having involves Merak Mail Server on Windows Server 2003. I have set-up my Web Mail on 443 and created a PEM CA through Merak. I wish to have this signed however it seems that the various free (Comodo inclusive) try before you buy systems dont actually support the PEM format. When I copy the CSR into the field it advises that it cannot decode the data.

If I use OpenSSL to create a CA it works fine however Merak refuses to work with the returned CRT and renders my Web Mail useless.

I have also used OpenSSL to try to convert the formats to no avail.

IS there a way I can have my PEM signed? Sorry if this is totally nOObish.