How to create a GoDaddy CSR on Windows 2008 R2

This guide explains how to create a CSR on Windows 2008 R2 using the Certificates MMC snapin.

First you need to open MMC and add the certificates snapin. Make you you specify that you wan t to mange “local computer”

Before we begin make sure you can see both the personal certificates (the red circle) and the intermediate certification autoritites (red arraw) as seen below.

To create the CSR we first right-click on Personal \ Certificates and choose create custom reuqest. 

 

Click next on the welcome screen and move on to you are asked to choose template. Change to the Legacy key as shown below and click Next.

The next screen can be a bit tricky. Press the details button and and the properties that appears.

For a GoDaddy certificate there are a few properties that we have to change. First we have to tell what name we want on the certificate. Find Subject on the top, change type to common name and type in the name of the certificate – and add it.

Then move on to the private key. Open key options and set the key size to 2048. You may also want to make the private key exportable.

Move then on to Extensions and key usage. Add both digital signature and key encipherment.

Browse then down to extended key usage and select both server and client authentication.

When done, press OK. You are now back to the a previous dialog. Notice that your settings are now in place. Press Next.

You can now save your request to a file. Choose base 64 as file format and save the request to a file.

You can now go to GoDaddy and order your certificate. Open the file you just created in Wordpad and copy its content to the web request.

Good luck!

Cheap SSL certificates?

Are you in need for good and cheap SSL certificates?

What is a SSL certificate? A SSL certificate is a proof that the remote party are who they claim to be. All certificates needs to be issued by a common known, trusted authority for this to work.

Where can you use a certificate? SSL certificates are used more often than you think. As a computer geek (you found this article, right…) you probably often use SSL certificates when suring web sites like your bank, Google login etc. Many mail providers let you encrypt e-mails during transmission on the wire. And you can even encrypt or digitally sign your e-mails using protocols like S/MIME.

Look at the image below, this is a screen shot from me visiting PayPal. The web site is protected with a SSL certificate.

I have earlier talked about choosing the right SSL issuer and SSL compatibility issues (advanced topic!).

Do I need one? For many home users, enterprises and small companies; yes – you do. You should encrypt your passwords and data that are sent through the Internet.

Where do I get one??? After looking around, I have not found any cheaper than GoDaddy on SSL certificates. It took me about 30 minutes to complete the purchase and install it on my e-mail server.

Windows Live Writer

Some time ago I wrote about the Windows Live Writer, a tool from Microsoft to write blog posts. I have now used the Live Writer for about two consecutive months now and I am very pleased with this free software from Microsoft. (If you don’t know it – Live Writer is part of Windows Live – with the MSN messenger among other tools.)

I think it has – for me – made me write more posts than I did before as it has made it easier for me to write something. About anything. The only thing I miss is norwegian spell control.