Question
Answer and Explanation
To create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) for SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), you'll typically use the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager or a third-party tool. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Using IIS Manager (Recommended for Windows Servers):
1. Open IIS Manager:
- Press `Win + R`, type `inetmgr`, and press Enter.
2. Select the Server:
- In the Connections pane on the left, select the server name (your machine name).
3. Open Server Certificates:
- In the middle pane, double-click on "Server Certificates".
4. Create a CSR:
- In the Actions pane on the right, click on "Create Certificate Request...".
5. Fill in the Distinguished Name Properties:
- Common Name: Enter the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) that clients will use to access your SSRS server (e.g., `reports.example.com`).
- Organization: Enter your company's legal name.
- Organizational Unit: Enter the department or division (e.g., IT Department).
- City/Locality: Enter the city where your organization is located.
- State/Province: Enter the state or province where your organization is located.
- Country/Region: Enter the two-letter country code (e.g., US, GB).
6. Cryptographic Service Provider Properties:
- Leave the default settings (usually "Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider" and 2048 bit length) unless you have specific requirements.
7. Specify the File Name:
- Enter a file name for the CSR (e.g., `ssrs.csr`) and choose a location to save it.
8. Complete the Wizard:
- Click "Finish". The CSR file will be created at the specified location.
9. Submit the CSR:
- Open the CSR file with a text editor (like Notepad) and copy the entire content (including `-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----` and `-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----`).
- Submit this content to your Certificate Authority (CA) to obtain your SSL certificate.
Using OpenSSL (Alternative Method):
1. Install OpenSSL:
- If you don't have OpenSSL installed, download and install it from a trusted source.
2. Open Command Prompt or Terminal:
- Open a command prompt or terminal window.
3. Run the OpenSSL Command:
- Use the following command, replacing the placeholders with your information:
openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout ssrs.key -out ssrs.csr -subj "/C=US/ST=YourState/L=YourCity/O=YourOrganization/OU=YourDepartment/CN=reports.example.com"
- Explanation:
- `-new`: Create a new certificate request.
- `-newkey rsa:2048`: Generate a new 2048-bit RSA private key.
- `-nodes`: Do not encrypt the private key.
- `-keyout ssrs.key`: Save the private key to `ssrs.key`.
- `-out ssrs.csr`: Save the CSR to `ssrs.csr`.
- `-subj`: Specify the subject information.
4. Submit the CSR:
- Open the `ssrs.csr` file with a text editor and copy the entire content to submit to your CA.
After Obtaining the Certificate:
1. Import the Certificate:
- Once you receive the signed certificate from your CA, import it into the server's certificate store using IIS Manager.
2. Configure SSRS:
- Configure SSRS to use the new certificate in the Reporting Services Configuration Manager.
By following these steps, you can successfully create a CSR for your SQL SSRS server and obtain an SSL certificate to secure your reporting services.