- Make sure that your web server has SSL capabilities. It should
say "SSL" in the Status window on the server, and have an SSL
Security item in the list of Settings in WebSTAR Admin.
To install an SSL server, you may need to install WebSTAR from the
distribution CD.
- Make sure the Status window is open on the server machine.
- In WebSTAR Admin, Settings window (on any machine), select SSL
Security.
- The top area lists the IP addresses you have set using the IP
Secondary Addresses file.
The lower area sets your security options, including certificate
and private key data. The checkboxes set your policy regarding
incoming connections.
Each IP address uses a different certificate. You can have
certificates for several of these addresses, but one IP address
can only have a single certificate.
- Select the item for the IP address which corresponds to the
host name of the current Certificate.
- On the Security popup menu, select SSL 2 and SSL 3.
- Use the Certificate Choose button to select the certificate
file you have saved in your host root folder described in
Generate a Private Key.
- Use the Private Key File Choose button to select the private
key file you used to generate your Certificate Signing Request.
- Type your Private Key Password into the appropriate field.
- Click the Save button.
- Look at the server Status window. You should see a message
confirming that the SSL certificate was accepted:
SSL context for xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:443 created.
Encryption Ciphers
The cipher checkboxes indicate which encryption
algorithms you will support. The client can connect only if they
support at least one of the cipher you enable, and they negotiate to
find the best fit.
- Very high-security sites will just enable 3DES and RC4-128.
- Some U.S. government sites require DES only, so if you are in
that situation, do not enable the RC4 options.
- If you decide that your server does not require DES as the
primary method, consider whether to allow your server to negotiate
DES (which is more computationally intensive), or to allow only
RC4.
- Most sites that want to allow overseas users will need to turn
on DES, DES-40 and RC4-40. RC4-40 is the only supported encryption
method that can be exported from the United States to other
countries.
- MAC is a little different, and should only be used if you need
to allow users to connect to your SSL server in an unsecure mode.
There are a few countries where authentication is allowed but
encryption is not, and the MAC cipher is sometimes used by clients
in these countries. The MAC cipher will send your certificate to
the client and ensure the integrity of the data you send, but it
won't encrypt the data.
When you have chosen your cipher settings, click Save
again to send the information to the server. |