Table Of Contents
Getting Started with CVDM-SSLSM
Key Features in CVDM-SSLSM
Navigating in CVDM-SSLSM
Installing the Java Plug-in
Starting CVDM-SSLSM
CVDM-SSLSM Home Page
Understanding the CVDM -SSLSM Desktop
Understanding the Action Buttons
Editing the Preferences
Setup Page
Viewing Running Configuration
Delivering CLI Commands to the Device
What's Next?
Getting Started with CVDM-SSLSM
The CiscoView Device Manager for Cisco Catalyst 6500 SSL Services Module is an embedded device manager for single service module setup, feature and services configuration, and monitoring of the services module.
SSLSM Overview
The Secure Socket Layer Services Module is a Layer 4-through-Layer 7 service module that you can install into the Catalyst 6500 series switch. The module terminates secure socket layer (SSL) transactions and accelerates the encryption and decryption of data used in SSL sessions.
The module operates either in a standalone configuration or with the Content Switching Module (CSM). In a standalone configuration, secure traffic is directed to the module using policy-based routing (PBR). When used with the CSM, only encrypted client traffic is forwarded to the module, while clear text traffic is forwarded to the real servers.
The SSLSM uses the SSL protocol to enable secure transactions of data through privacy, authentication, and data integrity; the protocol relies upon certificates, public keys, and private keys.
The certificates, which are issued by certificate authority and are similar to digital ID cards, verify the identity of the server to the clients and the clients to the server. The certificates include the name of the entity to which the certificate was issued, the public key of the entity, and the time stamp that indicates the certificate expiration date.
The public and private keys are the ciphers that are used to encrypt and decrypt information. The public key is shared without any restrictions, but the private key is never shared. Each public-private key pair works together; data that is encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the corresponding private key.
This chapter includes the following topics:
•
Key Features in CVDM-SSLSM
•
Navigating in CVDM-SSLSM
•
CVDM-SSLSM Home Page
Key Features in CVDM-SSLSM
CVDM-SSLSM supports several features in SSLSM software release 2.1.
The following table describes the key features of CVDM-SSLSM:
Table 1-1 Key Features
Feature
|
Description
|
Public Key Infrastructure
|
CVDM-SSLSM allows you to:
• Manage Certificates:
– Declare Trustpoints, import and export certificates
– Visual indication of expiring and missing configured certificates.
– Grouping of the Trustpoints by CA, enrollment status, and expiration date.
– Certificate Wizards to create and enroll certificates, import and export certificates.
• Create and manage Key Pairs
• Create and manage ACLs
• Create and manage certification authority pools
|
Proxy Service
|
CVDM-SSLSM allows you to set up server proxy, client proxy and enable backend encryption service using this feature.
|
Policies
|
CVDM-SSLSM allows you configure SSL policy, TCP, header insertion, and URL rewrite policies.
|
Statistics
|
CVDM-SSLSM shows you the TCP, SSL, and PKI statistics.
|
Navigating in CVDM-SSLSM
Before you begin using CVDM-SSLSM, you must understand the basic operation of the user interface, including the login procedure and user interface elements. See the following sections for more information:
•
Starting CVDM-SSLSM
•
Understanding the CVDM -SSLSM Desktop
Installing the Java Plug-in
You need to install the Java Plug-in. Java Plug-in improves the performance of CVDM-SSLSM and allows the application to use the latest Java runtime functionality. For CVDM, the plug-in speeds up caching and application loading. CVDM-SSLSM requires the Java Plug-in version 1.4.1_05.
The first time you invoke any Java Plug-in window, you are alerted if the plug-in is not installed. CVDM-SSLSM prompts you to download and install the plug-in files, using the installation screens or the procedure displayed. The next time you start the application, CVDM-SSLSM automatically uses the plug-in. Install the Java Plug-in provided with CVDM-SSLSM.
Starting CVDM-SSLSM
Step 1
In your browser, enter the IP address or DNS hostname of the SSLSM. The Enter Network Password dialog box appears.
Step 2
Enter your SSLSM username and password.
Step 3
Click OK. The CVDM splash screen appears.
Step 4
Enter your device username and password.
Step 5
Click Yes. The Warning - Security dialog box appears. To accept the security certificate and continue, click Yes.
Step 6
The SSH Credentials dialog box appears.
Step 7
Enter your SSH username and password. The Enter Enable Password dialog box appears.
Step 8
Enter enable password.
Step 9
Click OK. CVDM-SSLSM homepage appears.
CVDM-SSLSM Home Page
The home page is the first screen that comes up when CVDM-SSLSM is started. The home page provides an overview of the SSL Services Module (SSLSM).
Figure 1-1 Home Page
Table 1-2 Home Page Elements
|
|
Location
|
Description
|
1
|
System Overview
|
Displays the overview of the system.
|
2
|
Connection Dashboard
|
Displays the statistics of the traffic through the SSLSM.
|
3
|
Certificate Dashboard
|
Displays the information on the certificates.
|
4
|
Service Dashboard
|
Displays the information on the PKI service, proxy service, policies, and VLANs.
|
The System Overview Dashboard displays the following information:
Field
|
Description
|
Hostname
|
The host name of the SSLSM.
|
Software Version
|
The application image version.
|
System Up Time
|
The time elapsed since the SSL module was started.
|
Utilization (5 mins)
|
System utilization during the last 5 minutes.
The following utilization information is available:
• IOS CPU—The average utilization of the System CPU.
• TCP CPU—The average utilization of the System CPU.
• SSL CPU—The average utilization of the System CPU.
• FDU CPU—The average utilization of the System CPU.
• NVRAM—NVRAM utilization - [ NVRAM size in use / NVRAM size]
Note The utilization values are not updated in real time. You need to refresh the application to update the utilization.
|
The Certificate Dashboard displays the following information:
Certificate Expiry Dashboard
|
Number of certificates expiring in the near future. The expiry count will be displayed at weekly granularity.
This Week Number of certificates that will expire this week. Next Week Number of certificates that will expire next week. Week 3 Number of certificates that will expire the week after next. Week 4 Number of certificates that will expire in the fourth week from now.
|
CA Certificates
|
Valid Certificates
|
The number of valid CA certificates.
|
Expired Certificates
|
The number of invalid CA certificates.
|
SSL Certificates
|
Valid Certificates
|
The number of valid SSL certificates.
|
Expired Certificates
|
The number of invalid SSL certificates.
|
The Connection Dashboard displays the following information:
Statistics
|
|
TCP
|
Connections in ESTABLISHED state
|
Number of TCP connections in connections Established state.
|
Connections in TIME-WAIT state
|
Number of TCP connections in connections Time-Wait state.
|
SSL
|
Active Sessions
|
The number of SSL sessions with active connections.
The value is rendered as horizontal bar charts.
|
Active Connections
|
The number of SSL connections in data, handshake and re-negotiation phase.
The value is rendered as horizontal bar charts.
|
Average Connection Rate (past 5 mins)
|
The rate at which successful connections were setup in the past 5 minutes.
|
Handshake Failures (past 5 mins)
|
Total handshake failures in the past 5 minutes.
|
The statistics are not updated in real time. You can view and update the statistics in Setup > Statistics.
The Service Dashboard displays the following information:
PKI
|
Complete Certificate Chains
|
Number of complete certificate chains.
A icon indicates that the certificate chain is complete.
|
Incomplete Certificate Chains
|
Number of incomplete certificate chains.
A icon indicates that the certificate chain is incomplete.
|
Proxy Services
|
Proxy Services Up
|
Total Proxy Services that are operational.
A icon indicates that the module is operationally up.
|
Proxy Services Down
|
Proxy services not operational due to fault conditions: invalid certificate, lack of server connectivity, and so forth, and those that are administratively down.
A icon indicates that the module is administratively and operationally down.
In Setup > Proxy Services dialog box, the administratively down status and operationally down status is indicated using different icons.
|
Policies
|
SSL Policies
|
Number of SSL policies configured on the module.
|
TCP Policies
|
Number of TCP policies configured on the module.
|
URL Rewrite Policies
|
Number of URL rewrite policies configured on the module.
|
HTTP Header Insertion Policies
|
Number of HTTP Header Insertion policies configured on the module.
|
VLANs
|
Total VLANs
|
Number of VLANs on the module.
|
Admin VLAN
|
The admin VLAN ID.
|
Admin IP Address
|
IP Address of the admin VLAN.
|
Admin Gateway
|
IP Address of the gateway configured for the admin VLAN.
|
All group objects contains a hyperlink. Click on the links to view the details for a group object.
FAQ
You can find answers for your questions on important tasks using FAQ. Select a question from the FAQ list, then click Go.
Understanding the CVDM -SSLSM Desktop
This section describes the main GUI elements of the CVDM-SSLSM application.
Figure 1-2 CVDM-SSLSM GUI Elements

|
|
Location
|
Description
|
1
|
Menu bar
|
Provides File, Edit, View, and Help options.
• File
– File > Save to Startup—Saves the configuration running on the device as the startup configuration.
– File > Exit—Logs you out of CVDM-SSLSM and closes the application. A warning appears if any configuration has not been applied to the SSLSM.
• Edit
– Edit > Preferences—Displays the Preferences dialog box, from which you can edit application preferences.
–
|
2
|
Task bar
|
Provides access to CVDM-SSLSM functionality.
• Home—Displays the home page.
• Setup—Displays the features page.
• Refresh—Collects the most recent device information and updates CVDM-SSLSM with it.
• Deliver—Opens the Deliver Configuration to SSLSM dialog box, from which you can send accumulated CLI commands to the device.
• Help—Displays context-sensitive help.
|
| |
|
• View
– View > Home—Displays the Home page.
– View > Setup—Displays the Features page.
– View > Running Config > SSLSM...—Displays the configuration running on the SSLSM.
– View > Refresh—Collects the most recent device information and updates CVDM-SSLSM with it.
– View > Transport Log...—Displays the transport log of the device. You can clear the log or save the information to a file.
• Help
– Help > Help Topics—Displays online help.
– Help > About CVDM for SSLSM...—Displays CVDM-SSLSM version information.
|
3
|
Page
|
CVDM-SSLSM working area in which you perform tasks.
|
4
|
Pane
|
One part of a divided page or dialog box.
|
5
|
Status bar
|
Provides the following information:
• Message describing the status of the application.
• Application user and privilege level.
• Icon showing the security level of the connection.
• Time stamp of the application startup time.
|
6
|
Selector
|
Hierarchy of the groups and objects available on the services page that allows you to access specific functions for a service module object. See the "Selector" section for more information.
|
7
|
Left-most pane
|
Contains buttons, on the setup page, that allow you to access SSLSM functions.
|
Selector
Figure 1-3 shows the selector; Table 1-3 describes the selector elements.
Figure 1-3 Selector
Table 1-3 Selector Elements
|
|
Location
|
Description
|
1
|
Object Grouper
|
You can group the objects using various parameters. Select your option from the list.
|
2
|
Selector handle
|
Click the handle to open and close the selector, or click the handle and drag it to resize it.
|
3
|
Group folder
|
Displays a group of objects. Click the plus (+) symbol to see the contents of this folder.
|
4
|
Subgroup folder
|
Displays a subgroup of objects. Click the plus (+) symbol to see the contents of this folder.
|
5
|
Object
|
Displays the individual entity contained in the group or subgroup. Click an object to open the page for that object.
|
Note
Figure 1-3 shows what the selector looks like when folders, subfolders, and objects are displayed. Not all selectors contain all of these elements.
Understanding the Action Buttons
This section describes the action buttons that appear in the CVDM-SSLSM dialog boxes and wizards.
•
For a description of the wizard action buttons, see Table 1-4.
•
For a description of the dialog box action buttons, see Table 1-5.
Table 1-4 Wizard Action Buttons
Button
|
Action
|
Back
|
Takes you to the previous page.
|
Next
|
Takes you to the next page.
|
Finish
|
Takes you to the wizard summary page.
|
Cancel
|
Exits the wizard without making any changes.
|
Help
|
Displays context-sensitive online help.
|
Table 1-5 Dialog Box Action Buttons
Button
|
Action
|
OK
|
Saves your changes.
|
Cancel
|
Exits the dialog box without making any changes.
|
Help
|
Displays context-sensitive online help.
|
Editing the Preferences
Step 1
Select Edit > Preferences... The Preferences dialog box appears.
Step 2
Edit the appropriate values:
GUI Element
|
Action/Description
|
Show CLI Preview for Wizards check box
|
Select this checkbox if you want CVDM-SSLSM to display the CLI commands to be delivered to the device after you have completed a wizard.
When this checkbox is selected, when you click Finish in a wizard, the Deliver Configuration to the SSLSM dialog box opens and displays the CLI commands. For more information, see the "Delivering CLI Commands to the Device" section.
|
Show CLI Preview on Delivery check box
|
Select this checkbox if you want CVDM-SSLSM to display the CLI commands to be delivered to the device.
When this checkbox is selected, if you click Deliver, then the Deliver Configuration to SSLSM dialog box opens and displays the CLI commands. For more information, see the "Delivering CLI Commands to the Device" section.
|
Confirm before Exiting check box
|
Select this checkbox if you want CVDM-SSLSM to ask you to confirm that you want to exit the application.
When this checkbox is selected, CVDM-SSLSM displays a dialog box asking you if you want to exit CVDM-SSLSM. From this dialog box, you can select the Always display this dialog box before exiting checkbox if you always want CVDM-SSLSM to confirm that you want to exit CVDM-SSLSM.
|
Setup Page
The setup page allows you to access the SSLSM features. You can launch wizards from this page or you can start using the PKI, Proxy Service, Policy and VLAN features.
On selecting the Setup, the following GUI elements are displayed in a pane on the left side of the content window:
GUI Element
|
Description
|
Wizards
|
Click to launch wizards that will guide you to in creating and managing Trustpoints and proxy services.
|
PKI
|
Allows you to manage public key infrastructure on the SSLSM.
|
Proxy Services
|
Allows you to manage SSL proxy services on the SSLSM.
|
Policies
|
Allows you to manage the policy templates on the SSLSM.
|
VLANs
|
Allows you to manage VLAN configurations on the SSLSM.
|
Statistics
|
Allows you to view the SSLSM statistics.
|
Viewing Running Configuration
Step 1
Select View > Running Config > SSLSM.... The Running Configuration for SSLSM dialog box appears. Information about the running configuration for the SSL Services Module is displayed.
Step 2
Click Save to File... to save the configuration information to a text file.
Delivering CLI Commands to the Device
You must deliver accumulated CLI commands to the device before any changes you make in CVDM-SSLSM will be applied.
Step 1
Click the Deliver button at the top of the page. The Deliver Configuration to SSLSM dialog box appears if you have configured CVDM- SSLSM to display the accumulated CLI commands when you click the Deliver button.
Note
The Deliver Configuration to SSLSM dialog box also appears
when you click the Finish button in a wizard if you have configured CVDM-SSLSM to display the accumulated CLI commands after you have completed a wizard.
Note
For Certificate Import and Export Wizards, Deliver CLI Commands dialog box will not appear.
Step 2
Modify the appropriate values:
GUI Element
|
Action/Description
|
Save to Startup checkbox
|
Click the checkbox to save the running configuration, generated by CVDM, as the device startup configuration.
|
Deliver button
|
Click to send the accumulated CLI commands to the device.
|
Save to File... button
|
Click to save the CLI commands as a text file.
|
Close button1
|
Close the dialog box without delivering any CLI commands.
|
Deliver Later button2
|
Click to deliver the wizard CLI commands to the device at a later time.
|
Note
For Certificate Wizards, Deliver Later option will be disabled. The task will be performed immediately at the end of the wizard.
Note
The Deliver Configuration to Switch/Module(s) dialog box displays all accumulated CLI commands that will be delivered to the device; therefore, any previous CLI commands that were not sent to the device are shown in this dialog box, as well as the CLI commands you have generated in this session.
What's Next?
You are about to set up an SSL Service. To set up the SSL service, first set up the Public Key Infrastructure. You need to configure Trustpoints and install the Key Pairs, Proxy Service Certificates, and the corresponding CA Certificates. You can use the Trustpoint wizards to setup the PKI.
Once the Proxy Service Certificates and Key Pairs are installed in the SSLSM PKI, the next task in setting up the SSL service is to configure Proxy Services. You can use the Proxy Service Wizard to setup up the SSL service to configure proxy service.