How to Install SSL Certificate on Sun Java 7 Web Server

To install SSL on Sun Java 7 Web Server, generate a CSR using keytool, import the root and intermediate certificates into the Java keystore, import the server certificate using the same alias, enable the HTTPS listener on port 443, restart the server, and verify HTTPS using a browser or OpenSSL.

This sequence reflects how Java-based servers validate trust and is the most reliable path to a successful HTTPS setup.

Why SSL Installation Fails on Sun Java 7 Web Server

Most SSL installations fail on Sun Java 7 Web Server for three reasons:

Unlike Apache or NGINX, Java servers strictly bind private keys, certificates, and aliases. One mismatch causes HTTPS to fail without clear errors.

Prerequisites Before Installing SSL on Sun Java 7 Web Server

If you are managing SSL on legacy infrastructure, understanding certificate standards is essential. SSLInsights provides a concise explanation in what is an X.509 certificate, which explains why Java strictly validates certificate chains.

Before starting, confirm all items below:

Step 1: Enable Chrome Developer Mode

Alias consistency is mandatory.

If the alias changes, the private key and certificate will not bind.

9 Easy Steps to Install SSL on Sun Java 7 Web Server

Step 1: Locate or Create the Java Keystore File

Sun Java Web Server uses a Java keystore (.jks) file to store private keys and certificates.

Default keystore location:

/opt/SUNWwbsvr7/https-yourdomain/config/keystore.jks

If no keystore exists, it will be created during CSR generation.

Step 2: Generate CSR Using keytool for Sun Java 7

Use keytool to generate the private key and CSR.

keytool -genkey -alias sunserver \
-keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 \
-keystore keystore.jks

Step 3: Generate the CSR for SSL Certificate

Generate the CSR file that will be submitted to your Certificate Authority.

keytool -certreq -alias sunserver \
-file yourdomain.csr \
-keystore keystore.jks

Submit yourdomain.csr to your SSL provider.

They will return a certificate chain, not a single file.

Step 4: Import Root Certificate into Java Keystore

Always import the root certificate first.

keytool -import -trustcacerts \
-alias rootca \
-file root.crt \
-keystore keystore.jks

Type yes when prompted.

Step 5: Import Intermediate Certificate into Keystore

Next, import the intermediate certificate.

keytool -import -trustcacerts \
-alias intermediateca \
-file intermediate.crt \
-keystore keystore.jks

Skipping this step causes browser trust errors.

Step 6: Import Server Certificate (Domain Certificate)

Finally, import the server certificate using the same alias used for CSR creation.

keytool -import \
-alias sunserver \
-file yourdomain.crt \
-keystore keystore.jks

Certificate import order is critical:

Root → Intermediate → Server

Step 7: Verify SSL Certificate Chain in Keystore

Confirm the keystore contains a complete and valid certificate chain.

keytool -list -v -keystore keystore.jks

If the certificate chain appears incomplete or the private key is missing, review how public and private keys interact during SSL validation. SSLInsights explains this clearly in their guide on public key vs private key in SSL certificates, which helps diagnose keystore binding issues in Java-based servers.

Step 8: Enable HTTPS Listener in Sun Java 7 Web Server

Edit the server configuration file:

server.xml

./stopserv
./startserv

Step 9: Test SSL Installation on Sun Java Web Server

Validate SSL using:

openssl s_client -connect yourdomain:443

No certificate warnings confirm success.

Google recommends HTTPS for security and ranking signals according to Google Search Central (2024).

Common SSL Errors on Sun Java 7 and How to Fix Them

Browser shows Not Secure

Server fails to start

Handshake failure

Many Java SSL errors surface as browser warnings rather than server logs. A deeper breakdown of malformed certificate issues is covered in how to fix ERR_SSL_SERVER_CERT_BAD_FORMAT error, which applies directly to incorrect Java keystore imports.

Is Java 7 Safe for SSL in 2026?

Java 7 is officially end-of-life. While SSL may work, modern browsers and APIs increasingly reject older TLS implementations.

SSL installation alone does not guarantee:

Upgrading Java is recommended for production systems.

Next Steps After SSL Installation

If SSL still fails after following this guide, verify:

Recommended action:

Audit your keystore today and plan a Java upgrade if the server handles sensitive traffic.

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.