Using self-signed certificates for mutual authentication of two queue managers

Follow these sample instructions to implement mutual authentication between two queue managers, using self-signed SSL or TLS certificates.

About this task

Scenario:

  • You have two queue managers, QM1 and QM2, which need to communicate securely. You require mutual authentication to be carried out between QM1 and QM2.
  • You have decided to test your secure communication using self-signed certificates.
The resulting configuration looks like this:
Figure 1. Configuration resulting from this task
Queue managers QM1 and QM2 are linked by the channel QM1.TO.QM2. Each queue manager has a key repository, described in the following text.

In Figure 1, the key repository for QM1 contains the certificate for QM1 and the public certificate from QM2. The key repository for QM2 contains the certificate for QM2 and the public certificate from QM1.

Procedure

  1. Prepare the key repository on each queue manager, according to operating system:
  2. Create a self-signed certificate for each queue manager:
  3. Extract a copy of each certificate:
  4. Transfer the public part of the QM1 certificate to the QM2 system and vice versa, using a utility such as FTP.
  5. Add the partner certificate to the key repository for each queue manager:
  6. On QM1, define a sender channel and associated transmission queue, by issuing commands like the following example: 
    DEFINE CHANNEL(QM1.TO.QM2) CHLTYPE(SDR) TRPTYPE(TCP) CONNAME(QM1.MACH.COM) XMITQ(QM2) 
SSLCIPH(RC4_MD5_US) DESCR('Sender channel using SSL from QM1 to QM2')

DEFINE QLOCAL(QM2) USAGE(XMITQ)
    This example uses CipherSpec RC4_MD5. The CipherSpecs at each end of the channel must be the same.
  7. On QM2, define a receiver channel, by issuing a command like the following example: 
    DEFINE CHANNEL(QM1.TO.QM2) CHLTYPE(RCVR) TRPTYPE(TCP) SSLCIPH(RC4_MD5_US)
SSLCAUTH(REQUIRED) DESCR('Receiver channel using SSL from QM1 to QM2')
    The channel must have the same name as the sender channel you defined in step 6, and use the same CipherSpec.
  8. Start the channel.

Results

Key repositories and channels are created as illustrated in Figure 1

What to do next

Check that the task has been completed successfully by using DISPLAY commands. If the task was successful, the resulting output is similar to that shown in the following examples.

From queue manager QM1, enter the following command: 
DISPLAY CHS(QM1.TO.QM2) SSLPEER SSLCERTI
The resulting output is like the following example: 
DISPLAY CHSTATUS(QM1.TO.QM2) SSLPEER SSLCERTI
     4 : DISPLAY CHSTATUS(QM1.TO.QM2) SSLPEER SSLCERTI
AMQ8417: Display Channel Status details.
   CHANNEL(QM1.TO.QM2)                     CHLTYPE(SDR)
   CONNAME(9.20.25.40)                     CURRENT
   RQMNAME(QM2)
   SSLCERTI("CN=QM2,OU=WebSphere MQ Development,O=IBM,ST=Hampshire,C=UK")
   SSLPEER("SERIALNUMBER=4C:D0:49:D5:02:5E:02,CN=QM2,OU=WebSphere MQ Development,O=IBM,ST=Hampshire,C=UK")
   STATUS(RUNNING)                         SUBSTATE(MQGET)
   XMITQ(QM2)
From queue manager QM2, enter the following command: 
DISPLAY CHS(QM1.TO.QM2) SSLPEER SSLCERTI
The resulting output is like the following example: 
DISPLAY CHSTATUS(QM1.TO.QM2) SSLPEER SSLCERTI
     5 : DISPLAY CHSTATUS(QM1.TO.QM2) SSLPEER SSLCERTI
AMQ8417: Display Channel Status details.
   CHANNEL(QM2.TO.QM1)                     CHLTYPE(RCVR)
   CONNAME(9.20.35.92)                     CURRENT
   RQMNAME(QM1)
   SSLCERTI("CN=QM1,OU=WebSphere MQ Development,O=IBM,ST=Hampshire,C=UK")
   SSLPEER("SERIALNUMBER=4C:D0:49:D5:02:5F:38,CN=QM1,OU=WebSphere MQ Development,O=IBM,ST=Hampshire,C=UK")
   STATUS(RUNNING)                         SUBSTATE(RECEIVE)
   XMITQ( )

In each case, the value of SSLPEER must match that of the DN in the partner certificate that was created in Step 2. The issuers name matches the peer name because the certificate is self-signed .

SSLPEER is optional. If it is specified, its value must be set so that the DN in the partner certificate (created in step 2) is allowed. For more information about the use of SSLPEER, see WebSphere® MQ rules for SSLPEER values .