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Jose_H_134227's avatar
Jose_H_134227
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Sep 24, 2013

One IP, multiple virtual hosts, multiple domains, multiple wildcard certs

I have one server with multiple domains, and all those domains point to the virtual IP in our bigip.

 

The problem is that now I need to configure SSL wildcard certs for these domains. Is that even possible with the F5 ?

 

It is something like this:

 

qa1.domain1.com qa2.domain1.com qa3.domain1.com should all use *.domain1.com

 

qa1.domain2.com qa2.domain2.com qa3.domain2.com should all use *.domain2.com

 

etc....

 

Is it possible ?

 

10 Replies

  • It is absolutely possible, and you have at least three options:

     

    1. Wildcard cert - you'll likely find that this is the most expensive option.

       

    2. SAN or Subject Alt Name cert - like a wildcard but contains a set of names in the subjectAltName section of the x.509. It's generally cheaper than wildcard certs, and you can technically put wildcard subject alt names in a SAN cert. you'll usually find though that a public CA won't allow this.

       

    3. SNI or Server Name Indicator - a TLS extension that allows you to have individual server name certs and the BIG-IP will switch the SSL profile based on what the client is asking for. It requires TLS, so not an option for older clients.

       

  • hm... seems like my problem is this: BIG-IP 9.4.8 Build 355.0 Final

     

    Is there a way to do it in that version ?

     

  • Assigning multiple SSL profiles (and associated certificates) to a VIP is a function of SNI, which you can't do in 9.4.8. You can:

     

    1. Assign a single wildcard certificate to the client SSL profile that encompasses everything, or

       

    2. Assign a single SAN certificate that contains all of the server names you'll need.

       

    Given that your example uses two different top-level domains, you'll be hard-pressed to use a wildcard certificate. Perhaps a single SAN certificate is a better option. The only other significant alternative is separate VIPs with separate (wildcard) certificates.

     

  • To be more descriptive, I have a virtual IP(virtual server) that goes to the F5 for all those sites I previously mentioned. There I have only one wildcard cert, so now I have to add a number of wildcard certs to that same virtual IP. That is exactly what I haven't been able to do.

     

  • There I have only one wildcard cert, so now I have to add a number of wildcard certs to that same virtual IP. That is exactly what I haven't been able to do.

     

    Understood. And because you're on 9.4.8, your options are limited to either:

     

    1. a single "bigger" wildcard cert that encompasses everything, or

       

    2. a single SAN certificate that encompasses everything, or

       

    3. separate virtual servers with separate wildcard certs, or

       

    4. upgrade to v11 and use SNI

       

    In my opinion, option 2 is probably the best.

     

  • As Kevin wrote, it´s not possible to assign multiple certs (via multiple clientssl profiles) to a virtual server on v9. You can alternatively use a single SAN certificate (containing all you wildcard certificates). But only a single clientssl profile can be assigned to a VS under v9.

     

  • I ended up creating a virtual server per wildcard cert with a different IP and all these having the same member which is the physical server with the sites.

     

    Thanks for all the help !