SSL Server Selective Certificate Request Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer system administration methods often result in user irritation and confusion due to the unnecessary prompting for certificates during SSL session initiation, especially when certificate-based authentication is not required, leading to potential downtime and increased support costs.
Innovation Solution
An SSL server is configured to selectively request certificates based on the authentication method used by the client, differentiating between certificate-based and non-certificate-based authentication by utilizing designated ports or IP addresses, thereby avoiding unnecessary certificate prompts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the SSL server requests certificates from all clients during SSL session initiation, then certificate-based authentication security is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to unnecessary certificate prompts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the authentication process based on client type. The server identifies whether the client is a console system or administrative system and applies certificate prompting only to administrative systems while allowing console systems to bypass certificate prompts. This selective approach maintains security for administrative access while improving user experience for console systems.
2Reliability
If the SSL server always prompts for certificates, then security verification is improved, but session establishment time increases due to unnecessary authentication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the server determine the client type and authentication requirements before initiating the certificate prompting process. By identifying console systems in advance and marking them for bypass, the server avoids unnecessary certificate verification steps for these systems, thereby reducing session establishment time while maintaining appropriate security verification for administrative systems.
3Reliability
If certificate-based authentication is required for all SSL sessions, then authentication security is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional authentication configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the client base into distinct categories: console systems and administrative systems. Each category is assigned different authentication requirements. The server uses designated ports and IP addresses to differentiate between these segments, allowing simplified authentication for console systems while maintaining certificate-based authentication for administrative systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method involves an SSL server receiving an SSL session request from an SSL client. It is determined whether the SSL client is going to use certificate-based authentication. This may involve identifying a port at which the SSL session request was received. Alternatively, this may involve identifying an IP address at which the SSL session request was received. Alternatively still, this may involve examining authentication information in the SSL session request. If the SSL client is going to use certificate-based authentication, a certificate is requested from the SSL client. If the SSL client is not going to use certificate-based authentication, the certificate is not requested from the SSL client.