External SSL Certificate Renewal Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of renewing SSL certificates is time-consuming and resource-intensive, often prone to manual errors and infrastructure access issues, particularly in enterprise application server environments, leading to potential corruption of SSL configurations and significant downtime.
Innovation Solution
The certificate renewal process is initiated outside the Application Server environment by copying the KeyStore file to another machine, requesting renewal from a Certificate Authority, and then transferring the renewed certificate back to the Application Server, thereby minimizing the risk of manual errors and infrastructure access dependencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the certificate renewal process is performed inside the Application Server environment, then the certificate can be renewed in place, but the process becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive with higher risk of manual errors and infrastructure access issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the certificate renewal process from the Application Server environment by copying the KeyStore file to an external system. This separation allows the renewal operation to be performed outside the constrained server environment, reducing infrastructure access dependencies and manual error risks while maintaining the ability to renew certificates efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by copying the KeyStore file to an external system before initiating the renewal process. This preparation step enables the renewal to be executed in a more flexible environment with appropriate tools and resources available, reducing the time and complexity of the actual renewal operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the certificate renewal process is performed inside the Application Server environment, then the existing infrastructure can be used, but infrastructure access dependencies increase and manual errors become more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The renewal process is extracted from the Application Server environment to an external system. This extraction simplifies the operation by performing the renewal where appropriate tools and resources are readily available, reducing infrastructure access dependencies while maintaining ease of execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external system as an intermediary between the KeyStore file and the renewal process. This intermediary provides a suitable environment for performing the renewal operation with appropriate tools and resources, simplifying the overall process while reducing direct dependencies on the Application Server infrastructure.
3Productivity
If the certificate renewal is initiated by WebSphere team members, then the renewal can be performed on the Application Server, but immediate WebSphere resource allocation is required causing potential downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the renewal execution from the Application Server environment, allowing non-WebSphere team members to initiate and complete the renewal process externally. This eliminates the need for immediate WebSphere resource allocation and prevents service downtime, as the renewal occurs in an environment that does not require server unavailability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary copying of the KeyStore file to an external system, enabling the renewal to be executed without requiring Application Server resources. This preliminary preparation allows the actual renewal operation to proceed independently, eliminating downtime and improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, a system, and a computer program product for renewing a digital certificate. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the computer-implemented method comprises copying a digital certificate, from a first computer, onto a second computer, and requesting, from the second computer, renewal of the digital certificate by a certificate authority. The method further comprises loading a renewed digital certificate from the certificate authority, and saving the renewed digital certificate on the second computer. The renewed digital certificate is checked, on the second computer, for specified conditions, and the renewed digital certificate is copied from the second computer onto the first computer.