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Configuring an SSL Accelerator

• Introducing the SSL Accelerator
• Configuring the SSL Accelerator

Introducing the SSL Accelerator

The SSL Accelerator feature allows the BIG-IP Controller to accept HTTPS connections (HTTP over SSL), connect to a web server, retrieve the page, and then send the page to the client.

A key component of the SSL Accelerator feature is that the BIG-IP Controller can retrieve the web page using an unencrypted HTTP request to the content server. With the SSL Accelerator feature, you can configure an SSL gateway on the BIG-IP Controller that decrypts HTTP requests that are encrypted with SSL. Decrypting the request off-loads SSL processing from the servers to the BIG-IP Controller. This also allows the BIG-IP Controller to use the header of the HTTP request to intelligently control how the request is handled.

When the SSL gateway on the BIG-IP Controller connects to the content server, it uses the original client's IP address and port as its source address and port, so that it appears to be the client (for logging purposes).

This chapter describes the following features of the BIG-IP Controller SSL Accelerator:

• Configuring an SSL Accelerator
• Enabling and disabling an SSL Accelerator
• Viewing the configuration of an SSL Accelerator
• Using an SSL Accelerator scalable configuration
  
  

  Note: All products except the BIG-IP LoadBalancer, BIG-IP FireGuard Controller, and the BIG-IP Cache Controller support this configuration. The features required for this configuration are optional on the BIG-IP Controller HA and Enterprise.

  

  Figure 1.1 An incoming SSL connection received by an SSL Accelerator configured on a redundant BIG-IP Controller system

Configuring the SSL Accelerator

There are several steps required to set up the SSL Accelerator on the BIG-IP Controller. These steps include:

• Generating a key and obtaining a certificate
• Configuring the BIG-IP Controller with the certificate and key
• Creating an HTTP virtual server
• Creating the gateway for the SSL Accelerator
  
  

Generating a key and obtaining a certificate

In order to use the SSL Accelerator feature you must obtain a valid x509 certificate from an authorized certificate authority (CA). The following list contains some companies that are certificate authorities:

• Verisign (http://www.verisign.com)
• Digital Signature Trust Company (http://secure.digsigtrust.com)
• GlobalSign (http://www.globalsign.com)
• GTE Cybertrust (http://www.cybertrust.gte.com)
• Entrust (http://www.entrust.net)
  
  

  You can generate a key, a temporary certificate, and a certificate request form with the Configuration utility or from the command line.

  Note that we recommend using the Configuration utility for this process. The certification process is generally handled through a web page. Parts of the process require you to cut and paste information from a browser window in the Configuration utility to another browser window on the web site of the CA.

Additional information about keys and certificates

You must have a separate certificate for each domain name on each BIG-IP Controller or redundant pair of BIG-IP Controllers, regardless of how many non-SSL web servers are load balanced by the BIG-IP Controller.

If you are already running an SSL server, you can use your existing keys to generate temporary certificates and request files. However, you must obtain new certificates if the ones you have are not for the following web server types:

• Apache + OpenSSL
• Stronghold
  
  

Generating a key and obtaining a certificate using the Configuration utility

To obtain a valid certificate, you must have a private key. If you do not have a key, you can use the Configuration utility on the BIG-IP Controller to generate a key and a temporary certificate. You can also use the Configuration utility to create a request file you can submit to a certificate authority (CA). You must complete three tasks in the Configuration utility to create a key and generate a certificate request.

• Generate a certificate request
• Submit the certificate request to a CA and generate a temporary certificate
• Install the SSL certificate from the CA
  
  

  Each of these tasks is described in detail in the following paragraphs.

To create a new certificate request using the Configuration utility

1. In the navigation pane, click Proxies.
   The Proxies screen opens.
2. Click the Create SSL Certificate Request tab.
   The New SSL Certificate Request screen opens.
3. In the Key Information section, select a key length and key file name.
   
   

   · Key Length
   Select the key length you want to use for the key. You can choose either 512 or 1024 bytes.

   · Keyfile Name
   Type in the name of the key file. This should be the fully qualified domain name of the server for which you want to request a certificate. You must add the .key file extension to the name.

4. In the Certificate Information section, type the information specific to your company. This information includes:
   
   

   · Country
   Type the two letter ISO code for your country, or select it from the list. For example, the two-letter code for the United States is US.

   · State or Province
   Type the full name of your state or province, or select it from the list. You must enter a state or province.

   · Locality
   Type the city or town name.

   · Organization
   Type the name of your organization.

   · Organizational Unit
   Type the division name or organizational unit.

   · Domain Name
   Type the name of the domain upon which the server is installed.

   · Email Address
   Type the email address of a person who can be contacted about this certificate.

   · Challenge Password
   Type the password you want to use as the challenge password for this certificate. The CA uses the challenge password to verify any changes you make to the certificate at a later date.

   · Retype Password
   Retype the password you entered for the challenge password.

5. Click the Generate Certificate Request button.
   After a short pause, the SSL Certificate Request screen opens.
6. In the SSL Certificate Request screen, you can start the process of obtaining a certificate from a CA, and you can generate and install a temporary certificate.
   
   

   · Begin the process for obtaining a certificate from CA
   Click on the URL of a CA to begin the process of obtaining a certificate for the server. After you select a CA, follow the directions on their web site to submit the certificate request. After your certificate request is approved, and you receive a certificate back from the CA, see Installing certificates from the CA using the Configuration utility, on page 1-9, for information about installing it on the BIG-IP Controller.

   · Generate and install a temporary certificate
   

   Click the Generate Self-Signed Certificate button to create a self-signed certificate for the server. We recommend that you use the temporary certificate for testing only. You should take your site live only after you receive a properly-signed certificate from a certificate authority. When you click this button, a temporary certificate is created and installed on the
   BIG-IP Controller. This certificate is valid for 10 years. This temporary certificate allows you to set up an SSL gateway for the SSL Accelerator while you wait for a CA to return a permanent certificate.

Generating a key and obtaining a certificate from the command line

To obtain a valid certificate, you must have a private key. If you do not have a key, you can use the genconf and genkey utilities on the BIG-IP Controller to generate a key and a temporary certificate. The genkey and gencert utilities automatically generate a request file that you can submit to a certificate authority (CA). If you have a key, you can use the gencert utility to generate a temporary certificate and request file.

These utilities are described in the following list:

• genconf
  This utility creates a key configuration file that contains specific information about your organization. The genkey utility uses this information to generate a certificate.
• genkey
  After you run the genconf utility, run this utility to generate a temporary 30 day certificate for testing the SSL Accelerator on the BIG-IP Controller. This utility also creates a request file that you can submit to a certificate authority (CA) to obtain a certificate.
• gencert
  If you already have a key, run this utility to generate a temporary certificate and request file for the SSL Accelerator.
  
  

To generate a key configuration file using the genconf utility

If you do not have a key, you can generate a key and certificate with the genconf and genkey utilities. First, run the genconf utility from the root (/) with the following commands:

cd /

/usr/local/bin/genconf

The utility prompts you for information about the organization for which you are requesting certification. This information includes:

• The fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the server
• The two-letter ISO code for your country
• The full name of your state or province
• The city or town name
• The name of your organization
• The division name or organizational unit
  
  

  For example, Figure 1.2 contains entries for the server my.server.net:

  Figure 1.2 Example entries for the genconf utility

  Common Name (full qualified domain name): my.server.net  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
    Country Name (ISO 2 letter code): US  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
    State or Province Name (full name): WASHINGTON  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
    Locality Name (city, town, etc.): SEATTLE  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
    Organization Name (company): MY COMPANY  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
    Organizational Unit Name (division): WEB UNIT

To generate a key using the genkey utility

After you run the genconf utility, you can generate a key with the genkey utility. Type the following command from the root (/) to run the genkey utility:

cd /usr/local/bin/genkey <server_name>

For the <service_name>, type the FQDN of the server to which the certificate applies. After the utility starts, it prompts you to verify the information created by the genconf utility. After you run this utility, a certificate request form is created in the following directory:

/config/bigconfig/<fqdn>.req

The <fqdn> is the fully qualified domain name of the server. Please contact your CA and follow their instructions for submitting this request form.

In addition to creating a request form that you can submit to a certificate authority, this utility also generates a temporary certificate. The temporary certificate is located in:

/config/bigconfig/ssl.crt/<fqdn>.crt

The <fqdn> is the fully qualified domain name of the server.

Note that you must copy the key and certificate to the other controller in a redundant system.

This temporary certificate is good for ten years, but for an SSH proxy you should have a valid certificate from your CA.

Warning: Be sure to keep your previous key if you are still undergoing certification. The certificate you receive is valid only with the key that originally generated the request.

To generate a certificate with an existing key using the gencert utility

To generate a temporary certificate and request file

to submit to the certificate authority with the gencert utility, you must first copy an existing key for a server into the following directory on the BIG-IP Controller:

/config/bigconfig/ssl.key/

After you copy the key into this directory, type the following command at the command line:

cd /

/user/local/bin/gencert <server_name>

For the <server_name>, type the FQDN of the server to which the certificate applies. After the utility starts, it prompts you for various information. After you run this utility, a certificate request form is created in the following directory:

/config/bigconfig/ssl.crt/<fqdn>.req

The <fqdn> is the fully qualified domain name of the server. Please contact your certificate authority (CA) and follow their instructions for submitting this request form.

Installing certificates from the certificate authority (CA)

After you obtain a valid x509 certificate from a certificate authority (CA) for the SSL Accelerator, you must copy it onto each BIG-IP Controller in the redundant configuration. You can configure the accelerator with certificates using the Configuration utility or from the command line.

Installing certificates from the CA using the Configuration utility

1. In the navigation pane, click Proxies.
   The Proxies screen opens.
2. Click the Install SSL Certificate tab.
   The Install SSL Certificate screen opens.
3. In the Certfile Name box, type the fully qualified domain name of the server with the file extension .crt. If you generated a temporary certificate when you submitted a request to the CA, you can select the name of the certificate from the drop down list. This allows you to overwrite the temporary certificate with the certificate from the CA.
4. Paste the text of the certificate into the Install SSL Certificate window. Make sure you include the BEGIN CERTIFICATE line and the END CERTIFICATE line. For an example of a certificate, see Figure 1.3.
5. Click the Write Certificate File button to install the certificate.

   Figure 1.3 An example of a certificate

   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     MIIB1DCCAX4CAQAwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEEBQAwdTELMAkGA1UEBhMCVVMxCzAJBgNV  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     BAgTAldBMRAwDgYDVQQHEwdTZWF0dGxlMRQwEgYDVQQKEwtGNSBOZXR3b3JrczEc  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     MBoGA1UECxMTUHJvZHVjdCBEZXZlbG9wbWVudDETMBEGA1UEAxMKc2VydmVyLm5l  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     dDAeFw0wMDA0MTkxNjMxNTlaFw0wMDA1MTkxNjMxNTlaMHUxCzAJBgNVBAYTAlVT  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     MQswCQYDVQQIEwJXQTEQMA4GA1UEBxMHU2VhdHRsZTEUMBIGA1UEChMLRjUgTmV0  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     d29ya3MxHDAaBgNVBAsTE1Byb2R1Y3QgRGV2ZWxvcG1lbnQxEzARBgNVBAMTCnNl  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     cnZlci5uZXQwXDANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAANLADBIAkEAsfCFXq3Jt+FevxUqBZ9T  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     Z7nHx9uaF5x9V5xMZYgekjc+LrF/yazhmq4PCxrws3gvJmgpTsh50YJrhJgfs2bE  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     gwIDAQABMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBBAUAA0EAd1q6+u/aMaM2qdo7EjWx14TYQQGomYoq  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     eydlzb/3FOiJAynDXnGnSt+CVvyRXtvmG7V8xJamzkyEpZd4iLacLQ==  
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
    
   
     -----END CERTIFICATE-----

   After the certificate is installed, you can continue with the next step in creating an SSL gateway for the server.

Installing certificates from the CA from the command line

Copy the certificate into the following directory on each BIG-IP Controller in a redundant system:

/config/bigconfig/ssl.crt/

Note: The certificate you receive from the certificate authority (CA) should overwrite the temporary certificate generated by genkey or gencert.

If you used the genkey or gencert utilities to generate the request file, a copy of the corresponding key should already be in the following directory on the BIG-IP Controller:

/config/bigconfig/ssl.eky/

Warning: The keys and certificates must be in place on both controllers in a redundant system before you configure the SSL Accelerator. You must do this manually; the configuration synchronization utilities do not perform this function.

Creating an SSL gateway

After you create the HTTP virtual server for which the SSL Accelerator handles connections, the next step is to create an SSL gateway. This section also contains information about managing an SSL gateway.

To create an SSL gateway using the Configuration utility

1. In the navigation pane, click Proxies.
   The Proxies screen opens.
2. Click the ADD button.
   The Add Proxy screen opens.
3. In the Add Proxy screen, configure the attributes you want to use with the proxy. For additional information about configuring a proxy, click the Help button.
   
   

To create an SSL gateway from the command line

Use the following command syntax to create an SSL gateway:

 

b proxy <ip>:<port> [vlans add <vlan_list>] [<unit id>] target <server | virtual> <ip>:<port> ssl enable key <key> cert <cert>

For example, you can create an SSL gateway from the command line that looks like this:

b proxy 10.1.1.1:443 unit 1 target virtual 20.1.1.1:80 ssl enable key my.server.net.key cert my.server.net.crt }

Note that when the configuration is written out in the bigip.conf file, the line ssl enable is automatically added. When the SSL gateway is written in the /config/bigip.conf file, it looks like the text in Figure 1.4.

Figure 1.4 An example SSL gateway configuration

proxy 10.1.1.1:https unit 1 {  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  netmask 255.255.255.0  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  broadcast 10.1.1.255  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  target virtual 20.1.1.1:80  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  ssl enable  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  key my.server.net.key  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  cert my.server.net.crt  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  }

Enabling, disabling, or deleting an SSL gateway

After you have created an SSL gateway, you can enable it, disable it, or delete it using the Configuration utility or from the command line.

To enable or disable an SSL gateway using the Configuration utility

1. In the navigation pane, click Proxies.
   The Proxies screen opens.
2. In the Proxies list, select the SSL gateway you want to enable or disable.
   The Proxy Properties screen opens.
3. In the Proxy Properties screen, clear the Enable box to disable the proxy, or check the Enable box to enable the SSL gateway.
4. Click the Apply button.
   
   

To delete an SSL gateway using the Configuration utility

1. In the navigation pane, click Proxies.
   The Proxies screen opens.
2. Click the Delete button for the SSL gateway you want to delete.
   
   

To enable, disable, or delete an SSL gateway from the command line

You can enable, disable, or delete an SSL gateway with the following syntax:

b proxy <ip>:<port> enable

b proxy <ip>:<port> disable

b proxy <ip>:<port> delete

For example, if you want to enable the SSL gateway 209.100.19.22:443, type the following command:

b proxy 209.100.19.22:443 enable

If you want to disable the SSL gateway 209.100.19.22:443, type the following command:

b proxy 209.100.19.22:443 disable

If you want to delete the SSL gateway 209.100.19.22:443, type the following command:

b proxy 209.100.19.22:443 delete

Displaying the configuration for an SSL gateway from the command line

You can view the configuration information for an SSL gateway from the command line by using the show keyword.

To display configuration information for an SSL accelerator gateway from the command line

Use the following syntax to view the configuration for the specified SSL gateway:

b proxy <ip>:<port> show

For example, if you want to view configuration information for the SSL gateway 209.100.19.22:80, type the following command:

b proxy 209.100.19.22:443 show

You can see sample output of this command in Figure 1.5.

Figure 1.5 Output from the bigpipe proxy show command

SSL PROXY +---> 11.12.1.200:443 -- Originating Address -- Enabled Unit 1  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  | Key File Name balvenie.scotch.net.key  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  | Cert File Name balvenie.scotch.net.crt  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  +===> 11.12.1.100:80 -- Destination Address -- Server  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  SSL PROXY +---> 11.12.1.120:443 -- Originating Address -- Enabled Unit 1  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  | Key File Name balvenie.scotch.net.key  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  | Cert File Name balvenie.scotch.net.crt  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  +===> 11.12.1.111:80 -- Destination Address -- virtual

Additional configuration options

Whenever you configure a BIG-IP Controller, you have a number of options.

• You have the option in all configurations to configure a redundant BIG-IP Controller for fail-over. Refer to Redundant System in the BIG-IP Reference Guide, Configuration Objects and Properties.
• All configurations have health monitoring options. Refer to Health Monitors in the BIG-IP Reference Guide, Configuration Objects and Properties.
• When you create a pool, there is an option to set up persistence and a choice of load balancing methods. Refer to Pools in the BIG-IP Reference Guide, Configuration Objects and Properties.