Dartmouth PKI Deployment Robert Brentrup PKI Summit July 14, 2004

Dartmouth PKI Lab R&D to make PKI a practical component of a campus network Dual objectives: –Deploy existing PKI technology to improve network applications (both at Dartmouth and elsewhere). –Improve the current state of the art. Identify security issues in current products. Develop solutions to the problems. Sponsored by the Mellon Foundation, Cisco, Intel, Sun Labs, HP Labs, NSF, DHS, Intenet2/AT&T, IBM Research

PKI Objectives Provide Authentication Alternative –Ease of use important –Similar security is adequate Don’t transmit passwords, directory enabled –Scale as rapidly as possible Additional Applications PKI enables –Secure Mail –Document Signing Find out what was possible once infrastructure was available

PKI Implementation Commercial CA Software (Sun/iPlanet) Sun 250 server Single Online CA Server –Hardware Key Storage –Dedicated Firewall –Publishes CRLs and provides OCSP

Simple Policies Identification required for employment or matriculation Maintained from Institutional Systems –SIS, HR, Sponsored Guests LDAP Directory Authorization Self Service One year validity range –Also Temporary Certificate option Balance Complexity with Security needs

User Enrollment Key Generation by Web Browser –Internet Explorer and Netscape/Mozilla Cross platform –Software Key and Certificate Storage –USB Token option for better key protection and mobility –Increasing emphasis on Tokens and in-person registration

LDAP Directory Automated Addition and Deletion –New Persons added through normal procedures –Persons leaving removed in one month –Used for simple authorization checks CA Publishes Certificates and CRLs to LDAP –As revoked and refreshed weekly

Production Applications Web Services Authentication –Student Information System –Library Journals –Business School Portal –Software Downloads –Course Management System (Blackboard) SSL for IMAP Servers VPN Authentication

Pilot Applications Shibboleth Authentication Hardware Key Storage (Aladdin USB Tokens) –Distribute to Incoming Class Secure Mail and List Server Document Signatures –Acrobat, Office, XML (NIH) Wireless Network Authentication High Assurance VPN Access Application and OS Sign-on with Tokens Grids

PKI Deployment Timeline Planning late 2001 Staffing Jan - April 2002 HW/SW Acquisition began Feb 2002 CA Installation began June 2002 Test CA available Sept 2002 Production CA available Jan 2003 First Applications –Library Jun 2003, Banner Aug 2003

Certificates Issued On April 15, 2004 –1542 Certificates Issued –749 Unique Individuals –542 Students (10%) –207 Faculty and Staff (8%) –68 Servers, Network Devices and CMS Admin On July 14, 2004 –1819 Certificates Issued –885 Unique Individuals

Devices with Certificates Web Server Certificates (18) –Sponsored Research System (SRS) –Bio-Informatics –Eng. Course evaluation system –Letters of Evaluation On-line (LEO) –Computing Services Internal

Devices with Certificates Mail Servers (8) Sympa List Server (S/MIME) VPN Concentrators (2) Grids (2) –fMRI, Physics Directory Servers (5) –LDAP, Active Directory

Rollout Activities Integrated user documentation on web, software downloads Support staff training and early adopters Add PKI functionality in System Updates Offer PKI as first authentication option Kerberos authentication error messages suggest PKI alternative PKI Configuration and SW on Disk images, for public computers and new purchases

Issues Application owners rightfully cautious –Displacing a system that worked well in the past –Support has proven to not be a burden –Has solved existing problems Time available for new applications is limited OS and client PKI support evolving Inter-institutional infrastructure just starting to appear

Research Projects Guest Authentication to Secure Wireless Network Open Source CA software –Installation, Packaging, Features Secure Hardware Applications –TPM and IBM 4758 –Enforcer - Secure Linux Kernel (available at

Future Directions Move more advanced applications into production Evolve infrastructure to match security needs of application Universal local participation is a goal Inter-institutional / Government e-Business

For More Information Dartmouth Support Web: Dartmouth PKI Lab: PKI Outreach web: