Advanced Server Components Configuration (Multi-Tier)

Server-side Configuration for SSL

In order to make use of this functionality, you need to create a certificate on the server running the request broker. On Unix platforms we have provided a bin/mkcert.sh script as part of the installation. On other platforms you may have to run openssl by hand or use another system to generate the PEM file (such as generating it on a unix server and copying the files across).

A sample run of the mkcert.sh script, showing the various questions it asks to identify your organization, follows:

bash$ cd /usr/openlink/bin/
bash$ ./mkcert.sh mykey
Checking OpenSSL: OpenSSL 0.9.7d 17 Mar 2004
Generating a 512 bit RSA private key
.++++++++++++
.......++++++++++++
writing new private key to 'mykey.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.
-----
Host name (externally visible) [host.example.com]:purple
Organization (eg. company) [OpenLink Software]:
Organizational Unit [Research & Development]:Product Development
State or Province Name (full name) []:Surrey
Locality Name (eg. city) []:Croydon
Country Name (2 letter code) [US]:UK
1024 semi-random bytes loaded
Generating DH parameters, 512 bit long safe prime, generator 2
This is going to take a long time
..+........................+...........................+.......+...........
[]
.+.....++*++*++*++*++*++*
subject= /CN=purple/O=OpenLink Software/OU=Product Development/ST=Surrey/L=Croydon/C=UK
notBefore=Nov 12 10:43:14 2004 GMT
notAfter=Nov 10 10:43:14 2014 GMT
MD5 Fingerprint=E0:DB:53:E7:E7:68:21:53:1C:2B:1E:8E:D9:BF:25:F0

Created private key parameters in mykey.key
Created public key parameters in mykey.cer
bash$

Having created the key-pair, you now need to tell the request broker to use them. This requires the following lines to be present in the rulebook (oplrqb.ini):

[Request Broker]
....
SSLKeyFile = mykey.pem
SSLRequired = No            

The SSLKeyFile is the filename of the key you just created; to deny connections without SSL, set SSLRequired

Yes instead.

You can also put these options in the individual database agent sections, such that one key is used for e.g. Ingres, and another for SQL Server, or one for your sales database and another for people coming in from VPN IP#s (by editing the mapping rules to match on a per-IP# basis). For example:

[generic_sqlserver]
.....
SSLKeyFile = mykey-sqlserver.pem
SSLRequired = Yes                  ; All SQLServer connections
MUST use SSL

As an alternative to editing oplrqb.ini by hand, you can use the web-based Administrator GUI, either the form or wizards, to set the SSL Key File and SSL Required fields, thus:

Figure: 1. Server-side SSL Configuration of Request Broker via Web Assistant

Figure: 2. Server-side SSL Configuration at the database agent level via Web Assistant