xStack Gigabit Layer 3 Switch Command Line Interface Manual
23
SSL C
OMMANDS
Secure Sockets Layer
or
SSL
is a security feature that will provide a secure communication path between a host and client
through the use of authentication, digital signatures and encryption. These security functions are implemented through the use of
a
ciphersuite
, which is a security string that determines the exact cryptographic parameters, specific encryption algorithms and
key sizes to be used for an authentication session and consists of three levels:
1.
Key Exchange:
The first part of the cyphersuite string specifies the public key algorithm to be used. This switch utilizes
the Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA) public key algorithm and the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA), specified here as
the
DHE_DSS
Diffie-Hellman (DHE) public key algorithm. This is the first authentication process between client and
host as they “exchange keys” in looking for a match and therefore authentication to be accepted to negotiate encryptions
on the following level.
2.
Encryption:
The second part of the ciphersuite that includes the encryption used for encrypting the messages sent
between client and host. The Switch supports two types of cryptology algorithms:
3.
Hash Algorithm
: This part of the ciphersuite allows the user to choose a message digest function which will determine
a Message Authentication Code. This Message Authentication Code will be encrypted with a sent message to provide
integrity and prevent against replay attacks. The Switch supports two hash algorithms,
MD5
(Message Digest 5) and
SHA
(Secure Hash Algorithm).
Parameters
Stream Ciphers – There are two types of stream ciphers on the Switch,
RC4 with 40-bit keys
and
RC4 with 128-bit keys
.
These keys are used to encrypt messages and need to be consistent between client and host for optimal use.
CBC Block Ciphers – CBC refers to Cipher Block Chaining, which means that a portion of the previously encrypted
block of encrypted text is used in the encryption of the current block. The Switch supports the
3DES_EDE
encryption code
defined by the Data Encryption Standard (DES) to create the encrypted text.
These three parameters are uniquely assembled in four choices on the Switch to create a three layered encryption code for
secure communication between the server and the host. The user may implement any one or combination of the ciphersuites
available, yet different ciphersuites will affect the security level and the performance of the secured connection. The
information included in the ciphersuites is not included with the Switch and requires downloading from a third source in a
file form called a
certificate
. This function of the Switch cannot be executed without the presence and implementation of the
certificate file and can be downloaded to the Switch by utilizing a TFTP server. The xStack family of switches supports
SSLv3 and TLSv1. Other versions of SSL may not be compatible with this Switch and may cause problems upon
authentication and transfer of messages from client to host.
Command
enable ssl
{ciphersuite {RSA_with_RC4_128_MD5 |
RSA_with_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA |
DHE_DSS_with_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA |
RSA_EXPORT_with_RC4_40_MD5}}
disable ssl
{ciphersuite {RSA_with_RC4_128_MD5 |
RSA_with_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA |
DHE_DSS_with_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA |
RSA_EXPORT_with_RC4_40_MD5}}
config ssl cachetimeout
<value 60-86400>
show ssl
{certificate}
show ssl cachetimeout
download
certificate_fromTFTP
<ipaddr> certfilename <path_filename 64> keyfilename
<path_filename 64>
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