Replacing or Regenerating an SSL Certificate for the Management Interface

Note: This article describes how to perform the procedure on ESX Server. To find the steps for GSX Server, see www.vmware.com/support/gsx25/doc/manage_secure_remote_gsx.html.

Log on to the service console as root to perform the following steps.

1. Stop the management interface:

   root@esxserver ssl # /etc/init.d/httpd.vmware stop

2. Change to the following directory:

   root@esxserver ssl # cd /etc/vmware-mui/ssl

3. Set up a directory infrastructure:

   root@esxserver ssl # touch index.txt
   root@esxserver ssl # echo $(date '+%Y%m%d%H%M') > serial

   Note: The initial serial number can be any unique value.
   
   
4. Create the proper configuration file, openssl.cnf:

   root@esxserver ssl # vi openssl.cnf
   [ ca ]
   default_ca       = VMware_Inc
   
   [ VMware_Inc ]
   dir              = /etc/vmware-mui/ssl
   certificate      = $dir/cacert.crt
   new_certs_dir    = $dir/certs
   private_key      = $dir/cacert.key
   database         = $dir/index.txt
   serial           = $dir/serial
   default_bits     = 1024
   default_crl_days = 30
   default_days     = 365
   default_md       = sha1
   encrypt_key      = no
   prompt           = no
   x509_extensions  = ca_extensions
   policy           = VMware_Inc_policy
   
   [ ca_extensions ]
   basicConstraints       = CA:false
   
   [ VMware_Inc_policy ]
   commonName             = supplied
   stateOrProvinceName    = supplied
   countryName            = supplied
   emailAddress           = supplied
   organizationName       = supplied
   organizationalUnitName = optional
   
   [ req ]
   default_bits       = 1024
   private_key        = /etc/vmware-mui/ssl/mui.key
   default_md         = sha1
   distinguished_name = VMware
   x509_extensions    = v3_ca
   string_mask        = nombstr
   encrypt_key        = no
   prompt             = no
   
   [ VMware ]
   countryName            = US
   stateOrProvinceName    = California
   localityName           = Palo Alto
   organizationName       = VMware
   organizationalUnitName = VMware Management Interface
   commonName             = esxserver
   emailAddress           = ssl-certificates@vmware.com
   
   [ v3_ca ]
   subjectKeyIdentifier   = hash
   authorityKeyIdentifier = keyid:always,issuer:always
   basicConstraints       = CA:true

   Note: Modify all entries so they are specific to your environment.
   
   
5. Point openssl to the proper configuration file:

   root@esxserver ssl # export
   OPENSSL_CONF=/etc/vmware-mui/ssl/openssl.cnf

6. Create a self-signed root certificate:

   root@esxserver ssl # openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa -out cacert.crt
   -keyout cacert.key
   Using configuration from /etc/vmware-mui/ssl/openssl.cnf
   Generating a 1024 bit RSA private key
   ..++++++
   .++++++
   writing new private key to 'cacert.key'
   -----

7. Verify the root certificate:

   root@esxserver ssl # openssl x509 -in cacert.crt -text -noout
   Certificate:
       Data:
           Version: 3 (0x2)
           Serial Number: 0 (0x0)
           Signature Algorithm: sha1WithRSAEncryption
   ...

8. Generate a certificate request:

   root@esxserver ssl # openssl req -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout mui.key -out
   request.crt
   Using configuration from /etc/vmware-mui/ssl/openssl.cnf
   Generating a 1024 bit RSA private key
   .............++++++
   ......++++++
   writing new private key to 'mui.key'
   -----

9. Verify the certificate request:

   root@esxserver ssl # openssl req -in request.crt -text -noout
   Using configuration from /etc/vmware-mui/ssl/openssl.cnf
   Certificate Request:
       Data:
           Version: 0 (0x0)
           Subject: C=US, ST=California, L=Palo Alto, O=VMware, OU=VMware
   Management Interface, CN=esxserver/Email=ssl-certificates@vmware.com
   ...

10. Generate a certificate:

    root@esxserver ssl # openssl ca -in request.crt -out mui.crt -notext
    Using configuration from /etc/vmware-mui/ssl/openssl.cnf
    Check that the request matches the signature
    Signature ok
    The Subjects Distinguished Name is as follows
    countryName           :PRINTABLE:'US'
    stateOrProvinceName   :PRINTABLE:'California'
    localityName          :PRINTABLE:'Palo Alto'
    organizationName      :PRINTABLE:'VMware'
    organizationalUnitName:PRINTABLE:'VMware Management Interface'
    commonName            :PRINTABLE:'esxserver'
    emailAddress          :IA5STRING:'ssl-certificates@vmware.com'
    Certificate is to be certified until Aug 30 22:13:14 2006 GMT (365
    days)
    Sign the certificate? [y/n]:y
    
    1 out of 1 certificate requests certified, commit? [y/n]y
    Write out database with 1 new entries
    Data Base Updated

11. Start the management interface:

    root@esxserver # /etc/init.d/httpd.vmware start

12. Access the management interface through your browser to examine the certificate.