Beginner’s Guide to Setup an SSL Certificate in F5 Server
Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption is crucial for securing sensitive data as it travels across networks and the internet. To enable TLS on an F5 load balancer, you need to Install SSL Certificate on F5 Server. TLS is the successor to the older SSL encryption standard. F5 load balancers support TLS/SSL encryption to allow secure connections between clients and your servers.
To enable TLS on an F5 load balancer, you need to install an SSL certificate. The F5 uses the SSL certificate to perform the encryption and decryption between the client and the load balancer. This encrypts traffic as it passes through the F5 device.
Key Takeaways
- F5 load balancers use SSL certificates to encrypt traffic between clients and the load balancer. This protects sensitive data as it travels over the internet.
- To install an SSL certificate on an F5 load balancer, you’ll need to obtain a certificate from a trusted certificate authority or generate a self-signed certificate.
- Once you have your certificate files, you’ll import the certificate into the F5 load balancer using the Configuration utility.
- You must also configure the virtual servers on the F5 to use the SSL certificate to secure traffic. This associates the certificate with the IP addresses the virtual servers listen on.
- After installing the SSL certificate, it’s important to test that encryption is working properly by accessing HTTPS URLs through the F5 load balancer.
5 Easy Steps to Install SSL Certificate on F5 Server
Follow these steps, and you’ll have TLS encryption up and running on your F5 load balancer.
- Obtain an SSL Certificate
- Import the SSL Certificate
- Configure Virtual Servers to Use SSL
- Specify Server SSL Settings
- Test SSL Encryption
Step 1: Obtain an SSL Certificate
The first step is to obtain an SSL certificate for your F5 load balancer. You have two options:
Purchase an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority (CA)
The most secure and trusted option is to purchase an SSL certificate from a well-known CA such as DigiCert, Comodo, GlobalSign, etc.
Here’s the process to obtain a certificate from a CA:
- Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on the F5 load balancer. This can be done using the F5 Configuration utility.
- Purchase the SSL certificate from the CA, providing the CSR during the process.
- The CA will validate your domain ownership and issue the SSL certificate files. This usually includes the certificate itself (with .crt extension), the private key, and intermediate certificate bundles.
Generate a self-signed certificate.
A self-signed certificate is signed by its creator rather than a trusted CA. Self-signed certificates encrypt traffic, but web browsers will warn users that the certificate is not trusted. Use self-signed certificates for testing purposes or internal traffic.
To generate a self-signed certificate on the F5:
- In the F5 Configuration utility, navigate to System > Certificate Management > Traffic Certificate Management > SSL Certificate List.
- Click “Create” and configure settings like common name, key size, signature algorithm, etc.
- Click “Finished” to generate the self-signed certificate.
Either way, you should now have the necessary certificate files to install onto the F5 device. The most important files are the certificate itself (.crt file) and the private key.
Step 2: Import the SSL Certificate
Once you’ve obtained the SSL certificate files, you need to import these into the F5 load balancer:
- In the F5 Configuration utility, go to System > File Management > SSL Certificate List
- Click “Import.”
- Upload the certificate files:
- Certificate (.crt file)
- Private key
- Any intermediate certificates provided by the CA
- Click “Import” to upload the certificate files into the F5.
The certificate and private key should now be installed and ready to use.
Step 3: Configure Virtual Servers to Use SSL
Next, you must configure your virtual servers to use the SSL certificate. This associates the certificate with the virtual server IP addresses that clients will connect to.
For each virtual server:
- Go to Local Traffic > Virtual Servers and click on a virtual server.
- In the “Configuration” section, find the “SSL Profile (Client)” setting.
- From the drop-down, select the SSL profile where you imported the certificate.
- Click “Update” to save the changes.
- Repeat this process for all other virtual servers that need to use SSL.
Now, your virtual servers are configured to use encryption and the SSL certificate for client connections.
Step 4: Specify Server SSL Settings
Optionally, you can also configure SSL settings for traffic between the F5 and the real web servers:
- Go to Local Traffic > Profiles > SSL > Server
- Click “Create” to make a new server SSL profile
- Select the certificate to use
- Enable any other server SSL settings as needed
- Go to each virtual server and assign the server SSL profile in the “Configuration” section
This will encrypt traffic between the F5 and the backend servers.
Step 5: Test SSL Encryption
The SSL certificate is now installed and ready for use! However, you must test if the encryption is working properly.
To verify TLS is functioning:
- Open a web browser and access an HTTPS URL via the F5 (for example, https://www.example.com).
- Verify no SSL warnings or errors appear in the browser.
- Check for the padlock icon, indicating an encrypted connection.
- Use OpenSSL or another tool to confirm traffic is encrypted between the client and F5.
- Rotate between multiple clients and web browsers and repeat the testing process.
Testing from multiple clients will help confirm encryption and certificate propagation are working properly. Troubleshoot and address any TLS issues before sending production traffic through the F5 load balancer.
Final Thoughts
Installing an SSL certificate enables TLS encryption on the F5 load balancer, securing sensitive data as it travels across the network. By obtaining a valid certificate, importing it to the F5 device, associating it with virtual servers, and thoroughly testing it, you can have encrypted traffic running through the F5 load balancer.
SSL encryption is crucial for modern applications’ security and compliance. As you deploy services through the F5, be sure to utilize its SSL functionality to protect client connections and data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an SSL certificate and a TLS certificate?
SSL and TLS certificates are essentially the same thing. TLS is the newer generation encryption protocol that superseded SSL. Most references to “SSL certificates” still apply to the TLS encryption used today.
Where do I obtain an SSL certificate for the F5 load balancer?
You can purchase an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority like DigiCert, RapidSSL, GeoTrust, etc. This provides third-party validation and trust. Alternatively, you can generate a self-signed certificate directly on the F5 device for internal or testing needs.
What type of SSL certificate do I need?
Several types are available depending on the validation level. For public-facing websites, EV or Organization Validation certificates provide good browser recognition. Wildcard certificates can secure multiple sub-domains. For internal sites, a domain-validated or self-signed certificate may be sufficient.
How do I generate a CSR on the F5 load balancer?
In the F5 Configuration utility, go to System > Certificate Management > Traffic Certificate Management > SSL Certificate List. Click “Create” and fill out the CSR details, such as the common name. Then, download the CSR file.
Where do I upload the SSL certificate in the F5 configuration?
Import the SSL certificate file(s) at System > File Management > SSL Certificate List in the F5 config utility. Then, enable the certificate on the virtual server profiles.
How does the F5 virtual server use SSL?
Go to Local Traffic > Virtual Servers in the F5 config. Check that a valid SSL profile referencing the certificate is enabled for the virtual server profiles. The SSL profile binds the certificate to the virtual server IP address.
How can I troubleshoot SSL issues on the F5 load balancer?
First, a browser must be used to test accessing HTTPS URLs via the F5 to verify that the encryption is working. Check for SSL errors or warnings. Use a tool like OpenSSL to test traffic at different points as it goes through the F5. Review logs and look for SSL handshake errors.
Should I encrypt traffic between the F5 and real servers?
Enabling SSL profiles between the F5 and backend servers is considered a best practice. It provides end-to-end encryption between clients and servers. However, it also impacts F5 performance. Evaluate your needs to determine if backend SSL is necessary.
Priya Mervana
Verified Web Security Experts
Priya Mervana is working at SSLInsights.com as a web security expert with over 10 years of experience writing about encryption, SSL certificates, and online privacy. She aims to make complex security topics easily understandable for everyday internet users.
