21.1 Overview
The VMG can use certificates (also called digital IDs) to authenticate users. Certificates are based on
public-private key pairs. A certificate contains the certificate owner's identity and public key.
Certificates provide a way to exchange public keys for use in authentication.
21.1.1 What You Can Do in this Chapter
• The Local Certificates screen lets you generate certification requests and import the VMG's CA-signed
certificates
• The Trusted CA screen lets you save the certificates of trusted CAs to the VMG
229).
21.2 What You Need to Know
The following terms and concepts may help as you read through this chapter.
Certification Authority
A Certification Authority (CA) issues certificates and guarantees the identity of each certificate owner.
There are commercial certification authorities like CyberTrust or VeriSign and government certification
authorities. The certification authority uses its private key to sign certificates. Anyone can then use the
certification authority's public key to verify the certificates. You can use the VMG to generate
certification requests that contain identifying information and public keys and then send the
certification requests to a certification authority.
21.3 The Local Certificates Screen
Click Security > Certificates to open the Local Certificates screen. This is the VMG's summary list of
certificates and certification requests.
(Section 21.4 on page
229).
VMG3925-B10C/B30C User's Guide
C
H A P T E R
Certificates
226
21
(Section 21.4 on page