For setting up an SSL Certificate in IIS using MMC
Step-by-step guide
Creating the CSR on the server:
- Go to start and type in MMC → right click and run as administrator
- File → Add/Remove Snap-in
- Choose Certificates in the Available snap-ins and click on "Add"; Click ok; Choose Computer Account and then Local Computer in the next screen; Finish
- Expand Certificates to Personal → Certificates and click on Certificates
- In the main screen, right click → All tasks → Advanced Operations → Create Custom Request...
- Choose Proceed without enrollment policy; No Template and PKCS #10; Click on Details then Properties in the Custom request
- Subject Tab enter the following
- Common Name: address for the server (example: collss-dev16.ads.carleton.edu)
- Organization: Carleton College
- Organizational Unit: ITS
- Street Address: One North College Street
- Locality: Northfield
- State: MN
- Country: USA
- Private Key Tab select the following
- Cryptographic Service Provider
- RSA, Microsoft Software Key Storage Provider
- Key Options
- Key Size: 2048
- Check "Make private key exportable"
- Select Hash Algorithm
- Choose sha256
- Cryptographic Service Provider
- Choose where to save the Certificate Signing Request you've just set up
Creating the Cert
We use InCommon
- https://cert-manager.com/customer/InCommon?locale=en
- Go to the Certificates tab; Click on Add
- Manual create of CSR
- Paste the CSR that was generate in the file from the previous step
- Verify information is correct
- Certificate Type: InCommon SSL (SHA-2)
- Certificate Term: 2 years (currently this is the longest period of time but choose longer if available)
- Server Software: This may change but if generated in IIS then choose Microsoft IIS 5.x and later. This is specific to where the cert will be used
- Next; Decide if the cert should be auto renewed; Ok
- Find the Cert you just created in the list, selected it and Approve.
- Once approved, selected it and click on Details
- Download the Cert: X509 Base64
Installing the Cert
- Go back to MMC → Personal → Certificates
- Right click, All tasks → Import...
- Browse to the cert file you downloaded from InCommon
- Place all certificates in the following store: Personal
- Finish
At this point you can go into IIS. For the website you need the cert, click on Bindings and create a https binding. Select the cert you just created from the drop down list
Related articles