Question

Active Directory, Linux and Certificates

Asked by: JamesDS

I have a Windows Server 2003 R2 Active Directory and a Linux box running an application (called Collage) whose users I would like to authenticate against the AD. The application only supports TLS, so I need a certificate. However, I do not have the time on this job to properly design and deploy PKI, so I'm looking for a one-off solution.

My questions are therefore:

. If I create a self-signed certificate (using SelfSSL.EXE from the IIS reskit), install it on a Domain Controller and export it, can I use that to authenticate my Linux application?
. Is there a better way of achieving the same goal?

Thanks in advance
Cheers

JamesDS

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Asked On
2007-09-06 at 06:42:28ID22810705
Tags

certificate

,

linux

,

self

Topics

Windows 2003 Server

,

Linux Network Security

,

Windows Network Security

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: ahoffmannPosted on 2007-09-16 at 02:40:32ID: 19900047

> .. can I use that to authenticate my Linux application?
i.g. yes if the application accepts self-signed certs

 

by: Phil_AgcaoiliPosted on 2007-11-20 at 01:27:41ID: 20318490

Here's the one-off solutiont that many companies are now using to integrate Linux with AD fairly easily, Vintela:
http://www.quest.com/Vintela-Authentication-Services/
"Vintela Authentication Services allows you to seamlessly extend the security and compliance of your Microsoft Active Directory infrastructure to Unix, Linux, and Mac platforms and applications. It addresses the compliance need for cross-platform access control, the operational need for centralized authentication and single sign-on, and enables simplified, heterogeneous identity management.

Key Benefits of Vintela Authentication Services:

    * Extends the native capabilities of AD to Unix, Linux, and Mac systems and applications.

    * Implements Kerberos and LDAP on Unix/Linux/Mac systems creating a true single sign-on “trusted realm” in AD.

    * Provides the capabilities and tools to migrate from multiple, disparate Unix identities to unified AD authentication

    * Leverages the already secure and compliant AD infrastructure for non-Windows systems

Enables AD to act as the identity platform for Unix, Linux, and Mac systems, including extending advanced identity administration capabilities based in AD."

I hope this helps and, no, I'm not associated with these folks. I'm a happy user that's managed teams that have deployed it in 2 different companies at this point.

 

by: JamesDSPosted on 2008-07-06 at 07:21:10ID: 21940425

The accepted answer does not actually address the question, that of certificate authentication of linux applications with AD users. The eventual solution was to do as I stated in the original question - create a single self signed cert and inport it into the linux box.

I am familiar with Vintela and it does not provide this functionality in the current version.
Cheers

James

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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