InfoCenter Home >
5: Securing applications -- special topics >
5.5: Certificate-based authentication >
5.5.4: Requesting certificates >
5.5.4.3: Using test certificates

5.5.4.3: Using test certificates

If you need to start using a server before you get a production certificate from a CA -- for example, to test your installation -- you can do either of the following, less secure, alternatives:

  • You can use the test certificate (in the DummyServerKeyFile) provided with WebSphere to perform some early tests. However, you should replace it with a certificate that legitimately represents your server as soon as possible. For this, you do can either of the following:
    • Acquire production (or test) certificates from the CA
    • Create your own test CA and issue test certificates
  • You can configure the server initially without its certificate keyring. This means that clients cannot access the server securely. Again, this situation is acceptable only for testing purposes.

When you receive the certificate from the CA, you can modify the configuration of the server to use the new certificate. Clients can then access the server with the security provided by the certificate.

Go to previous article: Getting a production certificate Go to next article: Mapping certificates to users

 

 
Go to previous article: Getting a production certificate Go to next article: Mapping certificates to users