Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    CA Cert and Server Cert Expiring Soon

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved OpenVPN
    14 Posts 7 Posters 1.6k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • bingo600B
      bingo600 @SteveITS
      last edited by bingo600

      @steveits said in CA Cert and Server Cert Expiring Soon:

      https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/certificates/renew.html

      OP is on 2.4.5

      Wasn't the Renew GUI goodies added in 2.5 or even 2.6 ??

      /Bingo

      If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

      pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

      QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
      CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
      LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        SteveITS Galactic Empire @bingo600
        last edited by

        @bingo600 said in CA Cert and Server Cert Expiring Soon:

        Wasn't the Renew GUI goodies added in 2.5 or even 2.6 ??

        For the serial number? I think you're right, I seem to recall seeing that in a post or redmine or something not that long ago.

        Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
        When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
        Upvote 👍 helpful posts!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • J
          jc2it
          last edited by jc2it

          in the documentation it says, "Retaining the serial when renewing a CA allows existing certificates to remain valid, though some clients may not respect the new CA if the serial does not change."
          https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/certificates/renew.html

          Does anybody have a list or partial list of "some clients" that do not respect the new CA with the same serial number? Is the Windows Tap Adapter one of the clients? How about the openVPN tunnel clients?

          Thanks!

          jimpJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • jimpJ
            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate @jc2it
            last edited by

            @jc2it said in CA Cert and Server Cert Expiring Soon:

            Does anybody have a list or partial list of "some clients" that do not respect the new CA with the same serial number? Is the Windows Tap Adapter one of the clients? How about the openVPN tunnel clients?

            OpenVPN is fine there, so you shouldn't have to worry that. I know for sure the Firefox has a problem with reusing the serial, though, and I suspect other browsers may as well. I'm not sure beyond that because I haven't had an occasion to test.

            Reusing the cert means the old clients will still see the new CA as valid until their local copy expires. But it gives you time to roll out new client files without an abrupt cutover where everyone has to do it all at once.

            Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

            Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

            Do not Chat/PM for help!

            J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • J
              jc2it @jimp
              last edited by

              @jimp Thanks! That is what I was looking for.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • J
                jc2it
                last edited by

                @jimp
                After the cert expired yesterday all the systems with the old certificate failed to connect. So renewing a CA and retaining the serial number must not be foolproof. Are there settings in the 2.4.9 client that would preclude this?

                Verify Error: error=certificate is not yet valid
                OpenSSL: error 1416F086:SSL routines.tls_process_server_certificate:certificate verify failed

                Then
                Verify Error: error=certificate is expired

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • jimpJ
                  jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                  last edited by

                  If the client had the expired CA cert then it would fail.

                  Renewing the CA and retaining the serial number lets the server run with a new/fresh CA while still allowing old clients to connect for the time being. The clients must still get a new non-expired copy of the CA before it expires otherwise they can't validate the server cert when it expires.

                  It's not a magical cure-all it's a way to have a smoother transition.

                  The old way you had to make a new CA and cut off all clients until they updated, this way you can roll out the updated CA over time (until the old one expires).

                  Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                  Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                  Do not Chat/PM for help!

                  J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • J
                    jc2it @jimp
                    last edited by

                    @jimp
                    I see. That wasn't clear to me 18 days ago when it would have been easier to remediate this.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • jimpJ
                      jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                      last edited by

                      It was in my reply 18 days ago, too.

                      @jimp said in CA Cert and Server Cert Expiring Soon:

                      Reusing the cert means the old clients will still see the new CA as valid until their local copy expires. But it gives you time to roll out new client files without an abrupt cutover where everyone has to do it all at once.

                      Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                      Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                      Do not Chat/PM for help!

                      J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • J
                        jc2it @jimp
                        last edited by

                        @jimp
                        yep. I missed it. Thanks.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • First post
                          Last post
                        Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.