Ssl Settings - D-Link DES-3528 - xStack Switch - Stackable Reference Manual

xStack® DES-3528/DES-3552 Series Layer 2 Stackable Fast Ethernet Managed Switch Web UI Reference Guide

SSL Settings

Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a security feature that will provide a secure communication path between a host and
client through the use of authentication, digital signatures and encryption. These security functions are implemented
through the use of a cipher suite, which is a security string that determines the exact cryptographic parameters,
specific encryption algorithms and key sizes to be used for an authentication session and consists of three levels:
1 Key Exchange: The first part of the Ciphersuite string specifies the public key algorithm to be used. This
switch utilizes the Rivest Shamir Adleman (RSA) public key algorithm and the Digital Signature Algorithm
(DSA), specified here as the DHE DSS Diffie-Hellman (DHE) public key algorithm. This is the first
authentication process between client and host as they "exchange keys" in looking for a match and therefore
authentication to be accepted to negotiate encryptions on the following level.
2 Encryption: The second part of the cipher suite that includes the encryption used for encrypting the messages
sent between client and host. The Switch supports two types of cryptology algorithms:
Stream Ciphers – There are two types of stream ciphers on the Switch, RC4 with 40-bit keys and RC4 with
128-bit keys. These keys are used to encrypt messages and need to be consistent between client and host for
optimal use.
CBC Block Ciphers – CBC refers to Cipher Block Chaining, which means that a portion of the previously
encrypted block of encrypted text is used in the encryption of the current block. The Switch supports the 3DES
EDE encryption code defined by the Data Encryption Standard (DES) to create the encrypted text.
3 Hash Algorithm: This part of the cipher suite allows the user to choose a message digest function which will
determine a Message Authentication Code. This Message Authentication Code will be encrypted with a sent
message to provide integrity and prevent against replay attacks. The Switch supports two hash algorithms,
MD5 (Message Digest 5) and SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm).
These three parameters are uniquely assembled in four choices on the Switch to create a three-layered encryption
code for secure communication between the server and the host. The user may implement any one or combination of
the cipher suites available, yet different cipher suites will affect the security level and the performance of the secured
connection. The information included in the cipher suites is not included with the Switch and requires downloading from
a third source in a file form called a certificate. This function of the Switch cannot be executed without the presence
and implementation of the certificate file and can be downloaded to the Switch by utilizing a TFTP server. The Switch
supports SSLv3. Other versions of SSL may not be compatible with this Switch and may cause problems upon
authentication and transfer of messages from client to host.
The SSL Settings window located on the next page will allow the user to enable SSL on the Switch and implement any
one or combination of listed cipher suites on the Switch. A cipher suite is a security string that determines the exact
cryptographic parameters, specific encryption algorithms and key sizes to be used for an authentication session. The
Switch possesses four possible cipher suites for the SSL function, which are all enabled by default. To utilize a
particular cipher suite, disable the unwanted cipher suites, leaving the desired one for authentication.
When the SSL function has been enabled, the web will become disabled. To manage the Switch through the web
based management while utilizing the SSL function, the web browser must support SSL encryption and the header of
the URL must begin with https://. (Ex. https://xx.xx.xx.xx) Any other method will result in an error and no access can be
authorized for the web-based management.
Users can download a certificate file for the SSL function on the Switch from a TFTP server. The certificate file is a
data record used for authenticating devices on the network. It contains information on the owner, keys for
authentication and digital signatures. Both the server and the client must have consistent certificate files for optimal use
of the SSL function. The Switch only supports certificate files with .der file extensions. Currently, the Switch comes with
a certificate pre-loaded though the user may need to download more, depending on user circumstances.
To view this window, click Security > SSL Settings, as shown below:
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