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2.3.1 Introduction

The certificates management is related to the server name and the services provided (please refer to 2.2 Network Segregation for details about the certificate assignation to a specific NIC/IP/name). In order to provide to the client a sure match of your identity you need to load and configure a secure certificate bonded to your server name (ie: name.server.tld).

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText Certificate configuration, default certificate installed AnchorName default_certificate

You can get the certificates configuration page using the Certificate Management link in the main menu. As shown above the default page is listing the installed TLS Keypair. 

Info
By default, on Brand brand server it's installed one "*.madama.at" wildcard certificate as shown in Xref AnchorName default_certificate

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText The tabs to access the two section related with the certificate management AnchorName tls tabs

From this page you can decide to view and delete your keypairs or the Certification Authority entries, using the tabs shown in the above 

Xref
AnchorName tls tabs

.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText link for creating new key and CSR or add new CAs AnchorName new_tls_new_ca

Instead if you need to create a new TLS key pair or add a new CA, then you have to use the buttons above the "TLS Keypair" list (the ones shown in 

Xref
AnchorName new_tls_new_ca

).

2.3.2 Create New Certificate

Add a new Certificate is a delicate matter, because it involves sensible informations like private Key Management and concealing. Adding a New Certificate on

Brand
brand server

means that you can create your own Certificate Signing Request directly on

Brand
brand server

and no need for external Private Key creation/management tools. Of course you need to have your CSR signed by a known Certificate Authority before you can actually use it.

Certificate Creation is thus split in two steps:

1. New Key and CSR creation (before CA sign)
2. New Certificate upload (after CA sign)

New Key and CSR

So first of all you start by creating a CSR: click on the New Key and CSR link above the certificate table.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText New certificate form AnchorName new_certificate

 

You are redirected on page shown in 

Xref
AnchorName new_certificate

. Here you can fill the form with all basics data needed to create a Certificate Signing Request. 

Info
All the fields in above form are standard ones for creating new TLS Key pairs/Certificate Signing Requests.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText example values for new CSR AnchorName CSR_creation_example

Once you're done you can just press Generate button at the bottom of the form.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText new CSR created and listed AnchorName new_CSR_created

A warning confirming creation and a new row in TLS Keypair list shows generation process has been successful. 

Tip
Using this Certificate creation process you don't have to deal directly with Private Keys.

Now you can download your CSR to make a Certificate Authority sign it, creating a brand new Server Certificate. 

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText Edit CSR form AnchorName Edit CSR

Just click on Certificate's name in main list and you get form shown in 

Xref
AnchorName Edit CSR

. From here you can fully manage your CSR, upgrading it to a proper Certificate or modifying its description.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText CSR management links AnchorName Edit_CSR_links

Anyway you need to Download CSR before you're done with Certificate creation, so use first link shown in detailed view 

Xref
AnchorName Edit_CSR_links

.

New Certificate upload

Once you have your CSR you just follow instructions by CA of your choice to obtain a new Certificate. As it's done, you can get back to form in 

Xref
AnchorName Edit CSR

 and this time Upload certificate.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText Upload Certificate form AnchorName upload_certificate

You can fill Certificate text box with actual Certificate as it has been release from Certificate Authority. If you got also some intermediate Certificate, then you have to paste it in Cert Chain. 

Warning
All the fields must be in PEM (Privacy Enhanced Mail) format.

When your done you just press the Upload button on the bottom line:

Brand
brand server

will validate entire Certificate Chain and if it went thought it then you should have a new line in you TLS/Keypair. 

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText Details of the new Certificate AnchorName new_cert_details

If you click on Certificate's Id then you can read Certificate's details as shown in 

Xref
AnchorName new_cert_details

.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText Edit new Certificate AnchorName new_cert_detail

You can notice that now you can also Download both Certificate and Certificate chain. Upload certificate can come handy in case of renewal.

Warning
Even if it's possible to extend Certificates validity period, Brand brand company it is a good practice to create a fresh new CSR each time instead. We also think it is wise to keep validity period of each Certificate just one year long.

Anchor
2.3.3_add_certification_authority 2.3.3_add_certification_authority

2.3.3 Add Certification Authority

You might need to upload a new CA (Certification Authority) if you tried to install a Certificate which wasn't signed by an installed CA. 

Info
By default Brand brand server contains a default list of pre-loaded Certification Authorities.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText the default CA list AnchorName clean_CA_list

The new CA installation becomes mandatory because without a complete certificate chain the new TLS key pair would not be accepted by

Brand
brand server

. If you need to upload a new certificate, click on the Add certification authority button above the certificate list table.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText New Certification Authority AnchorName new_CA

You get the form shown in 

Xref
AnchorName new_CA

 which is pretty straightforward. You just have to cut 'n' paste the CA's content in the Certificate box and click on the Create button at the bottom. 

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText CA list updated AnchorName CA_list_updated

As shown in 

Xref
AnchorName CA_list_updated

 the Certification Authority list shows a new entry. You can check the entry by subject (which is the entity that release the certificate) and the expiry Date (that shows how long the certificate is considered valid). 

2.3.4 Delete TLS key pair

In a day-by-day secure VoIP service administration it's not unusual to delete a TLS key pair. The procedure starts right at the Certificate Management page (the one shown in 

Xref
AnchorName default_certificate

.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText the TLS key pair list with a testing entry to be deleted AnchorName tls_key_pair_to_delete

In 

Xref
AnchorName tls_key_pair_to_delete

 you can see we added an entry conveniently named testing entry to be deleted and that's what we're going to do.

Warning
Please make sure no services got association with the TLS entry you're going to remove, or else the deletion would fail.

 

First you click on the chosen entry and get a detail of the TLS key pair (as in 

Xref
AnchorName new_cert_details

).

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText Update and Delete buttons AnchorName cert_update_delete_buttons

At the bottom of the form there's one Delete button. Just press it.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText the deletion is confirmed AnchorName tls_key_pair_deleted

Confirm the deletion in the following pop-up windows. After that you get the new TLS key pair list without the deleted entry and with a warning which explains the entry has been deleted (as in 

Xref
AnchorName tls_key_pair_deleted

).

2.3.5 Delete Certification Authority

You cannot edit an entry in the CA list, but you still can delete a CA and create a new one for replacement. That said, the way for deleting a CA entry is quite simple. From the CA list shown in 

Xref
AnchorName CA_list_updated

 choose the CA you want to expunge and press the Delete link in the last right column. 

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText CA's details AnchorName delete_CA_1

First you get a detail of the certificate you're going to delete. Just press the Delete button at the bottom and confirm your choice in the next pop up window.

Subtitle
Prefix figure SubtitleText The CA list updated and the warning AnchorName delete_CA_2

You receive a confirmation about the deletion in the new CA list page (shown above in 

Xref
AnchorName delete_CA_2

). Plus the list no more shows the deleted CA entry.

 

 

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