Dell PowerVault 715N (Rackmount NAS Appliance) - Manual (Page 93)

Introduction to SSL Certificates
Certificates contain information that is used to establish system identities over a network. This identification process is
called authentication. Although authentication is similar to conventional forms of identification, certificates enable Web
servers and users to authenticate each other before establishing a connection to create more secure communications.
Certificates also contain encryption values, or keys, that are used in establishing an SSL connection between the client
and server. Information, such as a credit card number, sent over this connection is encrypted so that it cannot be
intercepted and used by unauthorized parties.
Two types of certificates are used in SSL. Each type has its own format and purpose. Client certificates contain personal
information about the clients requesting access to your site, which allows you to positively identify them before allowing
them access to the site. Server certificates contain information about the server, which allows the client to positively
identify the server before sharing sensitive information.
Server Certificates
To activate your Web server's SSL 3.0 security features, you must obtain and install a valid server certificate. Server
certificates are digital identifications containing information about your Web server and the organization sponsoring the
server's Web content. A server certificate enables users to authenticate your server, check the validity of Web content,
and establish a secure connection. The server certificate also contains a public key, which is used in creating a secure
connection between the client and server.
The success of a server certificate as a means of identification depends on whether the user trusts the validity of
information contained in the certificate. For example, a user logging on to your company's website might be hesitant to
provide credit card information, despite having viewed the contents of your company's server certificate. This might be
especially true if your company is new and not well known.
For this reason, certificates are sometimes issued and endorsed by a mutually trusted, third-party organization, called a
certification authority. The certification authority's primary responsibility is confirming the identity of those seeking a
certificate, thus ensuring the validity of the identification information contained in the certificate.
Alternatively, depending on your organization's relationship with its website users, you can issue your own server
certificates. For example, in the case of a large corporate intranet handling employee payroll and benefits information,
corporate management might decide to maintain a certificate server and assume responsibility for validating identification
information and issuing server certificates. For more information, see " Obtaining a Server Certificate From a Certification
Authority ."
PowerVault 715N Certificate
By default, the PowerVault 715N has a self-generated and self-signed certificate. The configured SSL port is 1279.
NOTE: For non-SSL communication, use port 1278. This port is not a secure port and all text is sent in plain text
over the network.
Using a Custom Certificate
If a certification authority is present in the network, the administrator can choose to change the default PowerVault 715N
certificate. The administrator must use the wizards to first request a certificate and then apply it to the NAS system.
Obtaining a Server Certificate From a Certification Authority
NOTE: If you are replacing your current server certificate, the Internet Information Server (IIS) continues to use
the old certificate until the new request has been completed.
Find a certification authority that provides services that meet your business needs, and then request a server certificate.
NOTE: For the latest list of certification authorities supporting IIS, see the Microsoft Security website. In the By
Category list, select Certification Authority Services.
To obtain a server certificate, perform the following steps:
1. Log in to the NAS Manager.
See " Logging in to the NAS Manager ."