This article describes how to import a cross certificate request from an external Certificate Authority (CA), outside Smart ID Certificate Manager (CM), create the signing CA certificate and export that CA certificate to be returned to the originating CA. This task is done in the Administrator's workbench (AWB) in Certificate Manager (AWB).

Prerequisites

The following prerequisites apply:

• Two administration officers must sign the request.

• Both officers must have the following roles:

  • Use AWB

  • CA and Key tasks

• A connection to the CM host must have been established (see Connect to a Certificate Manager host).

• The required parameters for the cross certification must be known and have been agreed upon.

Import a cross certificate request from an external CA

1. In AWB, select Cross > Import Request.

2. In the Select File Containing Request dialog, select the relevant request file and click Open.

3. In the Modify Cross Request dialog, enter the CA name (in Authority name) that should appear in the Authority Hierarchy in the explorer bar. This field is mandatory.

4. If required, modify State, Domain and Visibility in subdomain.

5. Set Authority type to CA

6. To modify the CA Valid from and Expiration date fields, highlight in turn the days, hours, and minutes and adjust using the up and down arrows. The individual units of date and time may also be entered manually.

7. Click the Issuing CA browse button to open the Select Authority window.

8. Click on the required CA to highlight it and click OK. The selected CA appears in the Issuing CA field. This field is mandatory.

9. To select the CA usage, check Certificate signing and/or CRL signing. Selection of at least one option is mandatory.

10. Select the required Signature algorithm from the drop-down list.

11. Click the Format browse button to open the Select Certificate Format window.

12. Click on the required format to highlight it and click OK. The selected certificate format appears in the Format field. This field is mandatory.

    The format must accept the authorityKeyId from the request. This is done by the subordinate-ca-cert format. If any other format is chosen, ensure that the format is suitable. This field is mandatory.

13. Click OK. The Signature dialog box appears. See Sign tasks in Certificate Manager for more information.

Export the CA certificate to be returned to the originating CA

1. Highlight the CA created above and select Cross > Export Certificate.

2. Select the required file format, Binary or Base64, from the sub menu. Use Base64 if the certificate is to be sent to the external CA by email. The Select File for writing Certificate browser window is displayed.

3. Enter the name of the file to be used for the certificate and select its required location.

4. Click Save.

5. The file containing the certificate should now be forwarded to the external CA.

Additional information