How to Enable HTTPS Configuration in OpManager?

Until now, SSL was enabled in OpManager manually. The steps can be found here 

This step had to be repeated on every setup in case of failover being used and in central-probe setup. When central-probe has failover setup then it becomes very hectic.

Understanding SSL

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client. It is implemented in client-server communication with a secure handshake process made possible using PKI (Public key Infrastructure). The client and server perform a process called handshake in which they agree upon what encryption they can use and their shared Key before starting to communicate. This information will be encrypted using the public key(contained in certificate) and can only be decrypted using private key(server has it). So no one can intercept the communication further, even if the packets are captured.

Understanding SSL

Steps to enable HTTPS in OpManager:

1) Go to Settings -> General Settings -> Security Settings

Basic Setting

2) Enable the "Secure Mode" button.

Secure Mode:

3) Once the button is enabled, you will be prompted to choose from three options, namely:

  • Generate a CSR
  • Self-signed Certificate
  • Import Certificate

4) Generate CSR

This option helps you generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). A CSR or Certificate Signing request is a block of encoded text that is given to a Certificate Authority when applying for an SSL Certificate. It is usually generated on the server where the certificate will be installed and contains information that will be included in the certificate such as the organization name, common name (domain name), locality, and country. It also contains the public key that will be included in the certificate. A private key is usually created at the same time that you create the CSR, making a key pair. A CSR is generally encoded using ASN.1 according to the PKCS #10 specification.

A certificate authority will use a CSR to create your SSL certificate, but it does not need your private key. You need to keep your private key secret. The certificate created with a particular CSR will only work with the private key that was generated with it. So if you lose the private key, the certificate will no longer work.

Generate CSR

Once you click on the Generate CSR, you will have to fill out a few information for the certificate you want to create for use in OpManager Server.

Generate CSR

On clicking the Generate button your CSR and Server Key files will be downloaded as a ZIP. 

downloaded as a ZIP

Extract the file and use the "OpManager.csr" file to get a signed certificate from a CA of your choice.

OpManager.csr

Self-Signed Certificate:

This option lets you enable SSL in OpManager with a self generated and self-signed certificate. This certificate is safe to use and is equally secure. But browsers may display them as untrusted, since it is not signed by a Valid CA (Certificate Authority).

Self-Signed Certificate:

You will be prompted to restart OpManager for the changes to take effect.

restart OpManager

Import Certificate:

Use this option if you already have a valid certificate and key files (or) a keystore or a PFX file with the certificate.

Security Settings

Select a certificate file.

certificate file

Select the appropriate "key" file.

appropriate file

Verify and choose Import.

Verify and choose Import

!!! If the certificate cannot be validated with trusted sources, you will be asked to provide the intermediate certificates and root certificate files.

Root certificate
Root certificate

Once uploaded, Verify the certificate and click import. On successful import, you will be prompted to restart OpManager.

Root certificate

Importing from PFX or Keystore:

If you are using a Keystore or a PFX file, you will be prompted to input the password for opening the file.

Keystore file

On clicking Fetch, you will be provided with a list of Key-entries present in the keystore. Choose a specific alias which is to be used to enable SSL in OpManager.

certificate file

You will be shown a preview of the certificate information, verify and click Import for using the certificate. Again you will be prompted to restart OpManager for the changes to take effect.

verify and click Import for using the certificate

Finally, after enabling SSL through one of the above ways, you will be able to connect to OpManager in secure mode:

final-ssl-enabled
 
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