Installing SSL Certificate on Tomcat: A Step-by-Step Guide

Security is a top priority for everyone. One way to ensure that your website or application is secure is by installing an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. SSL encrypts data transferred between a user’s browser and your server, ensuring that sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or personal information remains safe.

Tomcat is a popular web server and servlet container used to host Java-based applications. Installing an SSL certificate on Tomcat can be a bit tricky if you’re unfamiliar with the process, but don’t worry! In this blog, we will explain how to install an SSL certificate on Tomcat.

What is an SSL Certificate?

• SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): This is a technology that creates an encrypted connection between the client (the user’s browser) and the server (your Tomcat server).
• HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure): Once SSL is installed, your website can use HTTPS, which ensures that data is transferred securely.

In simple terms, an SSL certificate keeps data safe and builds trust between your users and your website.

Why Do You Need SSL on Tomcat?

SSL certificates help:

• Secure Communication: Protect sensitive data like login details, credit card numbers, etc.
• Improve Trust: Visitors will see the padlock icon and “HTTPS” in the browser, which builds trust.
• SEO Ranking: Search engines like Google prioritize websites with SSL certificates, helping you rank higher.

Now, let’s walk through the process of installing an SSL certificate on Tomcat.

Before You Start

• Download Your Certificate: Make sure you’ve downloaded your certificate files. If you haven’t done so yet, click here for instructions to download the certificate in a ZIP file.

• Check Files in ZIP: After downloading, the ZIP file should contain:
  • certificate.crt
  • ca_bundle.crt
  • private.key
• Prerequisites: Ensure that OpenSSL, Java, and Tomcat are installed on the server or container before proceeding.

• Place the Files: Put the three files (certificate.crt, ca_bundle.crt, and private.key) in a directory where Tomcat can access them, and make sure the permissions are set correctly. In this guide, we’ll use the /certs directory, but you can adjust this path as needed.

• Edit server.xml: Open the server.xml file in your Tomcat configuration and ensure it has the following line:

<Listener className="org.apache.catalina.core.AprLifecycleListener" SSLEngine="on" />

• Update the SSL Listener: Modify the existing SSL listener in the same server.xml file or add the following if it’s not there. Remember to change the path /certs if needed:

<Connector port="8443" protocol="org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11AprProtocol" maxThreads="150" SSLEnabled="true">
    <UpgradeProtocol className="org.apache.coyote.http2.Http2Protocol" />
    <SSLHostConfig>
        <Certificate certificateKeyFile="/certs/private.key" certificateFile="/certs/certificate.crt" certificateChainFile="/certs/ca_bundle.crt" type="RSA" />
    </SSLHostConfig>
</Connector>

• Change the Port: If you want Tomcat to use a different port, replace port=”8443″ with your preferred port number.

• Optional: If you don’t need HTTP/2, you can remove the line <UpgradeProtocol …/>.

Conclusion

Installing an SSL certificate on a Tomcat server may seem complex, but by following this step-by-step guide, you can set it up with ease. SSL certificates are crucial for securing your website, building trust with your users, and improving your search engine rankings.

By creating a keystore, generating a CSR, obtaining an SSL certificate, and configuring Tomcat, you can ensure that your web application is safe and secure for your users. Always remember to monitor your SSL certificate’s expiration date and renew it on time to avoid security issues.

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