7 Setting Up Node Manager

This chapter describes how to configure Node Manager per the EDG recommendations. Oracle Fusion Middleware EDG recommends using host name verification for the communications between Node Manager and the Administration Server. This requires the use of certificates for the different addresses communicating with the Administration Server. In this chapter, the steps for configuring SOAHOST1 and SOAHOST2 certificates for host name verification are provided. Similar steps would be required for BAMHOST1 and BAMHOST2 in a BAM EDG topology. Although the appropriate hos tname changes in the steps are required for BAM, the procedure and syntax are exactly the same.

This chapter includes the following sections:

Section 7.1, "About the Node Manager"
Section 7.2, "Enabling Host Name Verification Certificates for Node Manager in SOAHOST1"
Section 7.3, "Starting the Node Manager on SOAHOST1"
Section 7.4, "Enabling Host Name Verification Certificates for the Node Manager in SOAHOST2"
Section 7.5, "Starting the Node Manager on SOAHOST2"

7.1 About the Node Manager

The Node Manager enables you to start and stop the Administration Server and the managed servers.

About Passwords

The passwords used in this guide are used only as examples. Use secure passwords in a production environment. For example, use passwords that include both uppercase and lowercase characters as well as numbers.

7.2 Enabling Host Name Verification Certificates for Node Manager in SOAHOST1

Perform these steps to set up host name verification certificates for communication between the Node Manager and the Administration Server.

Step 1: Generating Self-Signed Certificates Using the utils.CertGen Utility
Step 2: Creating an Identity Keystore Using the utils.ImportPrivateKey Utility
Step 3: Creating a Trust Keystore Using the Keytool Utility
Step 4: Configuring Node Manager to Use the Custom Keystores

7.2.1 Generating Self-Signed Certificates Using the utils.CertGen Utility

Follow these steps to create self-signed certificates on SOAHOST1.mycompany.com. These certificates should be created using the network name/alias. For information on on using trust CA certificates instead, see "Configuring Identity and Trust" in Oracle Fusion Middleware Securing Oracle WebLogic Server.

Set up your environment by running the WL_HOME/server/bin/setWLSEnv.sh script:

In the Bourne shell, run the following command:
```
SOAHOST1> . setWLSEnv.sh
```
Verify that the CLASSPATH environment variable is set:
```
SOAHOST1> echo $CLASSPATH
```
Create a user-defined directory for the certificates. For example, create a directory called certs under the ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name> directory. Note that certificates can be shared across WLS domains.
```
SOAHOST1> cd ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/
SOAHOST1> mkdir certs
```
Change directory to the user-defined directory.
```
SOAHOST1> cd certs
```

Run the utils.CertGen tool from the user-defined directory to create the certificates for both SOAHOST1 and SOAHOST1VHN1.

Syntax:

java utils.CertGen <key_passphrase> <cert_file_name> <key_file_name> [export | domestic] [hostname]

Examples:

SOAHOST1> java utils.CertGen welcome1 SOAHOST1_cert SOAHOST1_key
             domestic SOAHOST1.mycompany.com

SOAHOST1> java utils.CertGen welcome1 VIPHOST1_cert VIPHOST1_key
             domestic SOAHOST1VHN1.mycompany.com

7.2.2 Creating an Identity Keystore Using the utils.ImportPrivateKey Utility

Follow these steps to create an Identity Keystore on SOAHOST1.mycompany.com.

Create a new identity keystore called appIdentityKeyStore using the utils.ImportPrivateKey utility.

Create this keystore under the same directory as the certificates (that is, ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs.

Note:
The Identity Store is created (if none exists) when you import a certificate and the corresponding key into the Identity Store using the utils.ImportPrivateKey utility.

Import the certificate and private key for both SOAHOST1 and VIPHOST1 into the Identity Store. Make sure that you use a different alias for each of the certificate/key pair imported.

Syntax:

java utils.ImportPrivateKey <keystore_file> <keystore_password> <certificate_alias_to_use> <private_key_passphrase> <certificate_file> <private_key_file> [<keystore_type>]

Examples:
```
SOAHOST1> java utils.ImportPrivateKey appIdentityKeyStore.jks welcome1
            appIdentity1 welcome1
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/SOAHOST1_cert.pem
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/SOAHOST1_key.pem

SOAHOST1> java utils.ImportPrivateKey appIdentityKeyStore.jks welcome1
            appIdentity2 welcome1
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/VIPHOST1_cert.pem
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/VIPHOST1_key.pem
```

7.2.3 Creating a Trust Keystore Using the Keytool Utility

Follow these steps to create the Trust Keystore on SOAHOST1.mycompany.com.

Copy the standard java keystore to create the new trust keystore since it already contains most of the root CA certificates needed. Oracle does not recommend modifying the standard Java trust key store directly. Copy the standard Java keystore CA certificates located under the WL_HOME/server/lib directory to the same directory as the certificates. For example:
```
cp WL_HOME/server/lib/cacerts
ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/appTrustKeyStore.jks
```

The default password for the standard Java keystore is changeit. Oracle recommends always changing the default password. Use the keytool utility to do this. The syntax is:

keytool -storepasswd -new <NewPassword> -keystore <TrustKeyStore> -storepass <Original Password>

For example:

keytool -storepasswd -new welcome1 -keystore appTrustKeyStore.jks -storepass changeit

The CA certificate CertGenCA.der is used to sign all certificates generated by the utils.CertGen tool and is located at WL_HOME/server/lib directory. This CA certificate must be imported into the appTrustKeyStore using the keytool utility. The syntax is:

keytool -import -v -noprompt -trustcacerts -alias <AliasName>
 -file <CAFileLocation> -keystore <KeyStoreLocation> -storepass <KeyStore Password>

For example:

keytool -import -v -noprompt -trustcacerts -alias clientCACert -file
 $WL_HOME/server/lib/CertGenCA.der -keystore appTrustKeyStore.jks -storepass welcome1

7.2.4 Configuring Node Manager to Use the Custom Keystores

To configure the Node Manager to use the custom keystores, add the following lines to the end of the nodemanager.properties file located in the WL_HOME/common/nodemanager directory:

KeyStores=CustomIdentityAndCustomTrust
CustomIdentityKeyStoreFileName=<Identity KeyStore>
CustomIdentityKeyStorePassPhrase=<Identity KeyStore Passwd>
CustomIdentityAlias=<Identity Key Store Alias>
CustomIdentityPrivateKeyPassPhrase=<Private Key used when creating Certificate>
Make sure to use the correct value for CustomIdentityAlias on each node. For example on SOAHOST1, use appIdentity1, and on VIPHOST1, use appIdentity2.
Example for Node 1:
KeyStores=CustomIdentityAndCustomTrust
CustomIdentityKeyStoreFileName=ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/appIdentityKeyStore.jks
CustomIdentityKeyStorePassPhrase=welcome1
CustomIdentityAlias=appIdentity1
CustomIdentityPrivateKeyPassPhrase=welcome1

The passphrase entries in the nodemanager.properties file get encrypted when you start Node Manager as described in Section 7.3, "Starting the Node Manager on SOAHOST1." For security reasons, you want to minimize the time the entries in the nodemanager.properties file are left unencrypted. After you edit the file, you should start Node Manager as soon as possible so that the entries get encrypted.

When using a common/shared storage installation for MW_HOME, Node Manager is started from different nodes using the same base configuration (nodemanager.properties). In that case, it is required to add the certificate for all the nodes that share the binaries to the appIdentityKeyStore.jks identity store. To do this, create the certificate for the new node and import it to appIdentityKeyStore.jks as described above. Once the certificates are available in the store, each node manager needs to point to a different identity alias to send the correct certificate to the Administration Server. To do this, set different environment variables before starting Node Manager in the different nodes:

SOAHOST1>cd WL_HOME/server/bin
SOAHOST1>export JAVA_OPTIONS=-DCustomIdentityAlias=appIdentitySOAHOST1

SOAHOSTn>cd WL_HOME/server/bin
SOAHOSTn>export JAVA_OPTIONS=-DCustomIdentityAlias=appIdentitySOAHOSTn

7.3 Starting the Node Manager on SOAHOST1

Run these commands to start Node Manager on SOAHOST1:

Note:

If you have not configured and started Node Manager for the first time yet, run the setNMProps.sh script as specified in section Section 4.11, "Starting Node Manager on SOAHOST1." This will enable the use of the start script which is required for SOA and/or BAM.

SOAHOST1> cd WL_HOME/server/bin
SOAHOST1> ./startNodeManager.sh

7.4 Enabling Host Name Verification Certificates for the Node Manager in SOAHOST2

Perform these steps to set up SSL for communication between the Node Manager and the Administration Server:

Step 1: Generating Self-Signed Certificates Using the utils.CertGen Utility
Step 2: Creating an Identity Keystore Using the "utils.ImportPrivateKey" Utility
Step 3: Creating a Trust Keystore Using the Keytool Utility
Step 4: Configuring Node Manager to Use the Custom Keystores

7.4.1 Generating Self-Signed Certificates Using the utils.CertGen Utility

Follow these steps to create self-signed certificates on SOAHOST2.mycompany.com. These certificates should be created using the network name/alias.

Set up your environment by running the WL_HOME/server/bin/setWLSEnv.sh script:

In the Bourne shell, run the following command:
```
SOAHOST2> . setWLSEnv.sh
```
Verify that the CLASSPATH environment variable is set:
```
SOAHOST2> echo $CLASSPATH
```
Create a user-defined directory for the certificates. For example, create a directory called certs under the ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name> directory. Note that certificates can be shared across WLS domains.
```
SOAHOST2> cd ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>
SOAHOST2> mkdir certs
```
Note:
The directory where keystores and trust keystores are maintained must be on shared storage that is accessible from all nodes so that when the Administration Server or SOA servers fail over, (manually or with server migration), the appropriate certificates can be accessed.
Change directory to the user-defined directory.
```
SOAHOST2> cd certs
```

Run the utils.CertGen tool from the user-defined directory to create the certificates for both SOAHOST2 and VIPHOST1.

Syntax:

java utils.CertGen <key_passphrase> <cert_file_name> <key_file_name> [export | domestic] [hostname]

Examples:

SOAHOST2> java utils.CertGen welcome1 SOAHOST2_cert SOAHOST2_key
             domestic SOAHOST2.mycompany.com

SOAHOST2> java utils.CertGen welcome1 VIPHOST1_cert VIPHOST1_key
             domestic SOAHOST1VHN1.mycompany.com

7.4.2 Creating an Identity Keystore Using the "utils.ImportPrivateKey" Utility

Follow these steps to create an Identity Keystore on SOAHOST2.mycompany.com.

Create a new identity keystore called "appIdentityKeyStore" using the "utils.ImportPrivateKey" utility.

Create this keystore under the same directory as the certificates (that is, ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs).

Note that the Identity Store is created (if none exists) when you import a certificate and the corresponding key into the Identity Store using the "utils.ImportPrivateKey" utility.

Import the certificate and private key for both SOAHOST2 and VIPHOST1 into the Identity Store. Make sure that you use a different alias for each of the certificate/key pair imported.

Syntax:

java utils.ImportPrivateKey <keystore_file> <keystore_password> <certificate_alias_to_use> <private_key_passphrase> <certificate_file> <private_key_file> [<keystore_type>]

Examples:
```
SOAHOST2> java utils.ImportPrivateKey appIdentityKeyStore.jks welcome1
            appIdentity1 welcome1
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/SOAHOST1_cert.pem
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/SOAHOST1_key.pem

SOAHOST2> java utils.ImportPrivateKey appIdentityKeyStore.jks welcome1
            appIdentity2 welcome1
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/VIPHOST1_cert.pem
            ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/VIPHOST1_key.pem
```

7.4.3 Creating a Trust Keystore Using the keytool Utility

Follow these steps to create the Trust Keystore on SOAHOST2.mycompany.com.

Create a new trust keystore called appTrustKeyStore using the keytool utility:

bash-3.00$ keytool -keystore appTrustKeyStore.jks -genkey -keyalg RSA -alias app TrustKey -dname "cn=appTrustKey,ou=FOR TESTING ONLY,o=MyOrganization,L=MyTown,ST=MyState,C=US"
Enter keystore password:
Re-enter new password:
Enter key password for <appTrustKey>
       (RETURN if same as keystore password):
bash-3.00$ _

Note:

Use the standard Java keystore to create the new trust keystore because it already contains most of the needed root CA certificates. Do not to modify the standard Java trust key store directly.

You will be asked a series of questions. The keystore is created after you respond to these questions.

Tip:
Make a note of the information that you provide on the command line and in the subsequent dialog box, because you will need this information to define gateway policy steps.
Change the default password for the standard Java keystore utility using the keytool utility. Use the following syntax to change the default password:

keytool -storepasswd -keystore <TrustKeyStore>
Import the CA certificate called CertGenCA.der into the appTrustKeyStore using the keytool utility. This certificate, which is located in the WL_HOME/server/lib directory, is used to sign all certificates generated by utils.CertGen tool. Import CertGenCA.der using the following syntax:

keytool -import -v -noprompt -trustcacerts -alias <AliasName> -file <CAFileLocation> -keystore <KeyStoreLocation>

7.4.4 Configuring Node Manager to Use the Custom Keystores

Follow these steps to configure the Node Manager to use the custom keystores.

Add the following lines to the end of the nodemanager.properties file located in the WL_HOME/common/nodemanager directory.

KeyStores=CustomIdentityAndCustomTrust

CustomIdentityKeyStoreFileName=<Identity KeyStore>

CustomIdentityKeyStorePassPhrase=<Identity KeyStore Passwd>

CustomIdentityAlias=<Identity Key Store Alias>

CustomIdentityPrivateKeyPassPhrase=<Private Key used when creating Certificate>

Make sure to use the correct value for CustomIdentityAlias on each node. For example on SOAHOST2, use "appIdentity2", and on VIPHOST1, use "appIdentity2".

Example for Node 1:

KeyStores=CustomIdentityAndCustomTrust

CustomIdentityKeyStoreFileName=ORACLE_BASE/admin/<domain_name>/aserver/<domain_name>/certs/appIdentityKeyStore.jks

CustomIdentityKeyStorePassPhrase=welcome1

CustomIdentityAlias=appIdentity1

CustomIdentityPrivateKeyPassPhrase=welcome1

Note:
The passphrase entries in the nodemanager.properties file get encrypted when you start Node Manager, as described in Section 7.5, "Starting the Node Manager on SOAHOST2."
For security reasons, you want to minimize the time the entries in the nodemanager.properties file are left unencrypted. After you edit the file, you should start Node Manager as soon as possible so that the entries get encrypted.

7.5 Starting the Node Manager on SOAHOST2

Run these commands to start Node Manager on SOAHOST2:

Note:

If you have not configured and started Node Manager for the first time yet, run the setNMProps.sh script as specified in section Section 4.15, "Starting Node Manager on SOAHOST2." This will enable the use of the start script which is required for SOA and/or BAM.

SOAHOST2> cd WL_HOME/server/bin
SOAHOST2> ./startNodeManager.sh