Introduction

The default SSL web certificates in sipXecs are self-signed certificates, meaning there is not a valid certificate authority to verify them against. This results in popular web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Mozilla Firefox displaying onerous messages regarding website security when accessing the sipXecs web portal. This guide will step the sipXecs administrator through generating a certificate signing request (CSR) and installing the new web certificates.

Generating a 1024 bit Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

To generate a 1024 bit certificate signing request in sipXecs log in as a user with administrative rights (such as superadmin). Once you have logged in, browse to System >> Certificates. You will be presented with the Generate CSR page. Enter the correct information for all fields, then click Generate. The 1024 bit certificate signing request will be generated. Submit this certificate signing request to the certificate authority you wish to sign the certificate.

Generating a 2048 bit Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

Most certificate authorities now require 2048 bit or greater certificate signing requests but by default sipXecs generates 1024 bit certificate signing requests. Creation of 2048 bit certificates from sipXconfig is not yet supported. Alternatively, a 2048 bit CSR can be generated from the command line, changing the output filenames to match your certificate name:

openssl req -nodes -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout sipx.ezuce.com.key -out sipx.ezuce.com.csr

Generating a 2048 bit RSA private key
.....+++
.........................+++
writing new private key to 'sipx.ezuce.com.key'
-----
You are about to be asked to enter information that will be incorporated
into your certificate request.
What you are about to enter is what is called a Distinguished Name or a DN.
There are quite a few fields but you can leave some blank
For some fields there will be a default value,
If you enter '.', the field will be left blank.
-----
Country Name (2 letter code) [XX]:US
State or Province Name (full name) []:Massachusetts
Locality Name (eg, city) [Default City]:Andover
Organization Name (eg, company) [Default Company Ltd]:eZuce, Inc.
Organizational Unit Name (eg, section) []:
Common Name (eg, your name or your server's hostname) []:sipx.ezuce.com
Email Address []:sipx@ezuce.com

Please enter the following 'extra' attributes
to be sent with your certificate request
A challenge password []:
An optional company name []:

Copy the certificate signing request file and the private key from the server using a SFTP/SCP program such as WinSCP. Once copied, you may now submit the resulting CSR to you SSL provider. Be sure to back up your key to a safe place.

Preparing For SSL Certificate Installation: CA Chaining Certificates

Most certificate authorities now implement CA chaining as a method of verifying smaller certificate signing authorities against larger, more well-known signing authorities. These chaining certificates must be installed alongside the SSL certificate issued by the certificate signing authority. sipXecs now allows direct uploading of chaining certificates under System >> Certificates >> Import Web Certificate.

Installing SSL Web Certificate

log into the sipXecs web portal as a user with administrative rights (such as superadmin). Once you have logged in, browse to System >> Certificates. Choose Import Web Certificate on the left pane. Click Choose File or Browse (depending on your browser) and select the SSL certificate, the Key File (mandatory), and optionally Certificate Chain File and/or CA Certificate File to upload. Once you have selected the certificates, click the Import button. sipXecs will import the certificates but you should restart Apache manually by invoking the following command:

service httpd restart

You may have to close and reopen your browser for the SSL certificate to properly validate