Configure SSL mutual authentication

This topic explains how to set up mutual authentication between a Deployment Automation server and its agents and component integrators.

SSL overview

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology enables clients and servers to communicate securely by encrypting all communications.

Data is encrypted before being sent, and decrypted by the recipient so that communications cannot be deciphered or modified by third-parties.

Deployment Automation enables the server to communicate with its agents using SSL in mutual authentication mode.

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Mutual authentication overview

In mutual authentication mode, communications are encrypted as usual, but users are also required to authenticate themselves by providing digital certificates.

A digital certificate is a cryptographically signed document intended to assure others as to the identity of the certificate's owner. Deployment Automation certificates are self-signed.

Note: Make sure to set the server and agent properties before configuring mutual authentication and exchanging keys.

When mutual authentication mode is active, Deployment Automation uses it for JMS-based server/agent communication. In this mode, the Deployment Automation server provides a digital certificate to each agent, and each agent provides one to the server.

To activate mutual authentication, the Deployment Automation server provides a digital certificate to each local agent and agent relay, and each local agent and agent relay provides one to the server.

Agent relays, in addition to swapping certificates with the server, must swap certificates with the remote agents that use the relay. Remote agents do not have to swap certificates with the server, only with the agent relay they use to communicate with the server.

You can implement mutual authentication during installation or activate it afterward.

Note: When using mutual authentication mode, you must turn it on for the server, agents, and agent relays. Otherwise, they cannot connect to one another. If one party uses mutual authentication mode, all other parties must use it as well.

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Set up mutual authentication

You can set up mutual authentication between:

  • A server and agents

  • A server, agent relay, and agents

  • A server and component integrators

To configure mutual authentication for a server and agents:

  1. Set properties for mutual authentication

  2. Add an alias to an agent

  3. Add an alias to an agent relay

  4. Configure mutual authentication for server and agent

  5. Configure mutual authentication for server, agent relay, and agents

To configure mutual authentication for a server and component integrators:

  1. Set properties for mutual authentication

  2. Set up mutual authentication for server and component integrator

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