Using SSL Certificates and Java Keystores

Last modified on March 27, 2024

Some secure sites and APIs require you to provide a specific client certificate to access them. To monitor these sites with AlertSite, you need to upload the certificates to your AlertSite account and assign them to the appropriate monitors. AlertSite will automatically install these certificates in the monitoring locations so that they can successfully reach your secure sites.

You can view and manage your uploaded certificates in  > Settings > SSL Certificates (or Configure > SSL Certificates in AlertSite 1.0).

Note: You must be an Admin, Co-Admin or Power User to upload certificates to AlertSite and assign them to monitors.

Supported certificate types

AlertSite supports the following certificate types:

Monitor Type PKCS #12 (.p12 or .pfx) Java Keystore (.jks)
Web Site (Secure)  
API Endpoint (Secure)
Real-browser (DéjàClick Firefox and Chrome)  
SoapUI * *
FTP over SSL (FTPS)  

* AlertSite supports only certificates and keystores used for client-side authentication – those that are specified by the SoapUI global option File > Preferences > SSL > Keystore. SoapUI tests that use WSS Config are not supported.

Private location considerations

Private Node Server supports the certificate upload procedure described below starting from v. 2.1.2. To install certificates on earlier versions of Private Node Server, please contact Support.

Upload SSL certificates and Java keystores to AlertSite

AlertSite UXM

  1. Navigate to  > Settings > SSL Certificates.

  2. Click Add New Certificate. The Add Certificate screen appears.

    Specifying certificate properties
  3. Enter a name for the certificate in the Name field.

  4. Select the certificate type: –PKCS #12 (usually .p12 or .pfx) or Keystore (.jks).

  5. If your PKCS #12 certificate is self-signed, or if it is a chain certificate that includes certificate authority, select the Use Certificate Authority (CA) check box.

  6. Browse for the certificate file.

  7. In the Certificate Password field, enter the certificate password.

  8. Click Add.

AlertSite 1.0

  1. Navigate to Configure > SSL Certificates.

  2. Click Add a New Certificate in the top right corner.

    Add a New Certificate

    Click the image to enlarge it.

  3. The Add Certificate screen appears.

    Specifying certificate properties

    Click the image to enlarge it.

  4. Enter a name for the certificate.

  5. Select the certificate type: –PKCS #12 (usually .p12 or .pfx) or Keystore (.jks).

  6. If your PKCS #12 certificate is self-signed, or if it is a chain certificate that includes certificate authority, select the Use Certificate Authority (CA) check box.

  7. Browse for the certificate file.

  8. In the Certificate Password field, enter the certificate password.

  9. Click Submit.

Assign certificates to monitors

Once you have uploaded a certificate, you can assign it to your monitors in the monitor settings:

AlertSite UXM

  1. On the Dashboard, click on the monitor tile and select Edit Configurations.

    –or–

    Click Edit Monitor on the Monitor Summary, Monitor Availability, or Monitor Performance dashboard.

  2. Switch to the Advanced tab.

  3. In the SSL Options section, select the uploaded certificate from SSL Certificate.

    Selecting a SSL certificate for a monitor
  4. Click Save.

  5. Click to verify the connectivity using the certificate. You should see Test completed successfully.

AlertSite 1.0

  1. On the Dashboard, click the wrench icon next to the monitor name. This opens the monitor settings.

  2. Select the uploaded certificate from the SSL Certificate drop-down list.

    Selecting a SSL certificate for a monitor

    Click the image to enlarge it.

  3. Click Submit to save the changes.

  4. Click Test On Demand to verify the connectivity using the certificate. You should see Test completed successfully.

The specified certificate will be automatically installed to the locations used by this monitor.

Manage certificates

You can view and manage your uploaded certificates and keystores in  > Settings > SSL Certificates (or Configure > SSL Certificates in AlertSite 1.0). Here you can view the certificate information, replace the certificates and delete them.

The certificates are listed in a table with the following columns:

Column Description
Certificate Name A user-defined name for the certificate or keystore.
Type The certificate type: PKCS #12 or Java keystore.
Sites How many monitors use this certificate or keystore.

See which monitors use a certificate

AlertSite UXM

  1. Navigate to  > Settings > SSL Certificates.

  2. Click next to the certificate.

All monitors that use this certificate are listed in the Sites using this SSL Certificate section.

Sites that use this SSL Certificate

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AlertSite 1.0

Navigate to Configure > SSL Certificates and click the certificate in the list. All monitors that use this certificate are listed at the bottom of the page.

Monitors that use this SSL Certificate

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Replace certificates

You can replace the uploaded certificates, for example, those about to expire.

AlertSite UXM

  1. Navigate to  > Settings > SSL Certificates.

  2. Click next to the certificate you want to replace.

  3. Specify the new certificate:

    • Click Choose File to browse for the certificate file.

    • Enter the certificate password in the Certificate Password field.

    • For self-signed PKCS #12 certificates, select the Use Certificate Authority (CA) check box.

  4. Click Save to replace the certificate.

AlertSite 1.0

  1. Navigate to Configure > SSL Certificates and click the certificate in the list.

  2. Specify the new certificate:

    • Browse for the certificate file.

    • Enter the certificate password in the Certificate Password field.

    • For self-signed PKCS #12 certificates, select the Use Certificate Authority (CA) check box.

  3. Click Submit in the top right to replace the certificate.

Note: You can replace Java keystores with PKCS #12 certificates this way, but not vice versa.

View certificate contents

AlertSite UXM

Open the certificate for editing on the SSL Certificates screen, then click the Show Certificate Information link. Here you can see the certificate issuer, valid date range, and other details.

Certificate contents

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AlertSite 1.0

Click the certificate on the Configure > SSL Certificates screen, then click the Show Certificate Information link. Here you can see the certificate issuer, valid date range, and other details.

Certificate contents

Click the image to enlarge it.

Delete certificates

You can delete certificates that are no longer used by your monitored sites and API transactions.

AlertSite UXM

  1. Navigate to  > Settings > SSL Certificates.

  2. Click next to the certificate you want to delete.

AlertSite 1.0

  1. Navigate to Configure > SSL Certificates.

  2. Click the certificate in the list.

  3. Click Delete in the top right and confirm the deletion.

See Also

Configuring Monitors

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