Configuring SSL for IBM Content Search Services

The IBM Content Search Services server can communicate with the Content Platform Engine server on both secure and nonsecure channels. You can configure the IBM Content Search Services server to communicate over a secure connection by using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.

SSL is a commonly used protocol that provides secure connections by letting applications that connect over a network authenticate their identity to each other. SSL also encrypts the data that is exchanged between the applications.

With Content Platform Engine, you can configure secure channels on different levels. Based on your specific requirements, you can configure SSL on the following levels:

Encrypt the data that is transmitted over the network
Perform SSL server authentication

Restriction: Each of these levels is dependent on the previous levels. For example, to perform level 3, you must first configure level 1 and level 2.

Note: The person responsible for configuring SSL must have good SSL configuration experience. For example, they need to know how to use the Java keytool.exe, and know how to generate certificates signed by Certificate Authorities.