# Create and Apply SSL Certificates to VMware vSphere (ESXi) Host

## Create Your SSL Certificate

1. Launch XCA
2. Open the PKI database if it is not already (File > Open DataBase), enter password
3. Click on the Certificates tab, right click on your Intermediate CA certificate
4. Select New
5. On the Source tab, make sure Use this Certificate for signing is selected
6. Verify your Intermediate CA certificate is selected from the drop down
7. Click the Subject tab
8. Complete the Distinguished Name section

   internalName: esxi.i12bretro.local
   countryName: US
   stateOrProvinceName: Virginia
   localityName: Northern
   organizationName: i12bretro
   organizationUnitName: i12bretro Certificate Authority
   commonName: esxi.i12bretro.local

9. Click the Generate a New Key button
10. Enter a name and set the key size to at least 2048
11. Click Create
12. Click on the Extensions tab
13. Select End Entity from the type list
14. Click Edit next to Subject Alternative Name
15. Add any DNS or IP addresses that the certificate will identify
16. Update the validity dates to fit your needs
17. Click the Key Usage tab
18. Under Key Usage select Digital Signature, Key Enchiperment
19. Under Extended Key Usage select Web Server and Web Client Authentication
20. Click the Netscape tab
21. Select SSL Server
22. Click OK to create the certificate

## Exporting Required Files

1. In XCA, click on the Certificates tab
2. Right click the SSL certificate > Export > File
3. Set the file name to rui.crt verify the export format is PEM (*.crt)
4. Click OK
5. Click the Private Keys tab
6. Right click the private key generated for the SSL certificate > Export > File
7. Set the file name to rui.key and verify the export format is PEM private (*.pem)
8. Click OK

## Applying SSL Certificates in VMware vSphere

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the VMware vSphere web UI
2. Authenticate at the VMware ESXi login
3. Select Actions > Services > Enable Secure Shell (SSH)
4. Download WinSCP Download
5. Extract WinSCP and run the executable
6. Connect to the VMware vSphere server IP via WinSCP
7. Login with the root user account
8. Navigate to /etc/vmware/ssl
9. Rename rui.crt to rui.crt.orig
10. Rename rui.key to rui.key.orig
11. Copy the exported rui.crt and rui.key to the VMware vSphere host /etc/vmware/ssl
12. Back in the web UI select Action > Services Disable Secure Shell (SSH)
13. Click Actions > Reboot and Reboot again to confirm
14. When the ESXi host comes back up the new SSL certificates will be used