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| − | Using a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_Computing computing grid] requires authorisation and authentication. This is managed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymmetric_cryptography asymmetric cryptography] with client-side SSL certificates. Currently, setting this up requires the user to [http://ca.dutchgrid.nl/guide/ go through] [http://www.dutchgrid.nl/agenda/askArchive.php?base=agenda&categ=a042&id=a042s3t2/moreinfo several steps] that can by quite daunting to some. jGridStart attempts to ease this process with automation and a graphical user-interface, enabling you to quickly proceed to actually using the grid.
| + | #REDIRECT [[JGridstart]] |
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| − | jGridStart is currently being developed. I expect the first version to be ready somewhere in May 2009.
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| − | Meanwhile you can have a look at a [http://www.nikhef.nl/~wvengen/jgridstart02/jgridstart.jnlp user-interface mockup]. This may or may not be something that resembles the final product. Please remember that it doesn't work at all as of yet.
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| − | Current work-in-progress can be found at [https://ndpfsvn.nikhef.nl/repos/pdpsoft/trunk/nl.nikhef.jgridstart jGridStart SVN] ([https://ndpfsvn.nikhef.nl/cgi-bin/viewvc.cgi/pdpsoft/trunk/nl.nikhef.jgridstart/ web access]). More or less recent builds [http://www.nikhef.nl/~wvengen/jgridstart03/jgridstart.jnlp may] be [http://www.nikhef.nl/~wvengen/jgridstart03b/jgridstart.jnlp available] as well.
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| − | [http://grix.arcs.org.au/ Grix] is an existing program that aims for the same goal. It [[User:Wvengen@nikhef.nl/JGridStart/Grix|may or may not be]] a viable solution for us.
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| − | == Planned features ==
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| − | * user-interface
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| − | ** both graphical user-interface for easy usage by unknowledgeable users
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| − | ** and command-line interface for cli addicts and testing.
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| − | ** the application should detect the state of affairs and present sensible actions
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| − | ** working on multiple platforms: Linux, Windows, Mac OS X at the least
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| − | * single point-of-entry for management of ''user'' grid certificates, including
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| − | ** requesting a new certificate
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| − | ** installing certificates into different parts of the system (like internet browsers)
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| − | ** rekeying an (almost expired) certificate
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| − | ** sending revocation requests
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| − | ** switching between different certificates (like the default certificate in your ~/.globus)
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| − | ** importing/exporting a certificate for transfer
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| − | ** changing the private key passphrase
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| − | * security checks
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| − | ** validate permissions of private keys
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| − | ** require passwords on places where private keys are stored
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| − | ** require passwords to pass a minimum strength test
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| − | ** check certificates against revocation lists
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| − | * adaptable configuration so it can be deployed by other parties with moderate effort
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| − | ** location of web forms for interaction with certificate authority
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| − | ** content and properties of user's certificate
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| − | ** name and organisation texts
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| − | == Roadmap ==
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| − | === version 0.1 ===
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| − | * graphical and command-line user-interface
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| − | * working on Linux, written with portability in mind
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| − | * actions: request new certificate, install, request renewal
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| − | * security checks
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| − | * unobtrusively support multiple certificates
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| − | === version 0.2 ===
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| − | * working on Linux, Windows, Mac OS X
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| − | * tests using command-line interface
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| − | === version 0.3 ===
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| − | * actions: request revocation, import, export, change passphrase
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| − | * add the notion of archived certificates (expired or revoked) and implement in user-interface
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| − | === version 0.4 ===
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| − | * gather and process user feedback
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| − | * make it work with other RA backends as well
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| − | == Technologies ==
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| − | * Programming language: [http://java.sun.com/javase/ Java] version 1.3 or 1.4 (older versions are [http://www.statowl.com/java.php hardly used] anymore).
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| − | ** Good news: will use 1.5 (mainly because of generics) and [http://retroweaver.sourceforge.net/ retroweaver] for downcompiling!
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| − | * Deployment: [http://java.sun.com/javase/technologies/desktop/javawebstart/ Java Web Start]
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| − | * Building: [http://ant.apache.org/ Ant], [http://proguard.sourceforge.net/ ProGuard]
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| − | * Toolkit: [http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/swing/ Swing] for portability and ease of use (optionally [http://swingwt.sourceforge.net/ SwingWT] for native feel?)
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| − | ** with [http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/misc/action.html Actions] for a clean design,
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| − | ** [http://www.centerkey.com/java/browser/ browser launcher] complemented with [https://jdic.dev.java.net/ desktop integration] to open external web pages, [[User:Wvengen@nikhef.nl/BareBonesBrowserLaunch|see here]],
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| − | ** [https://xhtmlrenderer.dev.java.net/ xhtmlrenderer] (aka flying saucer) for html forms, and
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| − | ** [http://commons.apache.org/cli/ Apache Commons CLI] for a getopt command-line interface
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| − | * Cryptography: [http://bouncycastle.org/java.html BouncyCastle]
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| − | * Logging: standard [http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/logging/ Java logging] (java>=1.4)
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| − | * Installation of certificates into internet browsers:
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| − | ** [http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/ Firefox]: [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/security/pki/nss/tools/certutil.html certutil]
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| − | ** [http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ Internet Explorer]: the [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa376007(VS.85).aspx CEnroll] ActiveX object
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| − | ** [http://www.apple.com/safari/ Safari]: using [http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man1/certtool.1.html certtool] (as shown [http://computing.fnal.gov/software/MacOSX/importingDOEcerts.html here])
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| − | ** [http://www.opera.com/ Opera]
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| − | == Notes of RA's ==
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| − | If you have something to add, please notify me!
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| − | * frequently happening problems
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| − | ** people often send either a certificate signing request or the form instead of both
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| − | ** people often send a renewal as new request because they forget to send an S/MIME mail
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| − | * feature requests
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| − | ** in registration form: identity-proof-document fields don't match the web interface ("nationality" instead of "document issuing country" and "document type")
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| − | ** a renewal should be sent automatically to the correct RA (same as original request but beware email changes)
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| − | ** in the RA interface "Authenticate request" an additional comment field would be handy
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| − | ** verify email by sending a confirmation link before accepting a certificate signing request
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| − | == Server-side ==
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| − | jGridStart talks with a certificate authority using http requests. The application is delivered with a simple proof-of-concept certification authority that implements the required functionality. Also the existing [http://ca.dutchgrid.nl/ DutchGrid CA web interface] will be adapted to work with it.
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| − | == Related documents ==
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| − | * [https://forge.gridforum.org/sf/projects/caops-wg Certificate Authority Operations WG]
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| − | * [[User:Wvengen@nikhef.nl/JGridStart/Notes|Notes]]
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| − | == Related software ==
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| − | * [http://www.bestgrid.org/index.php/Grid_Tools Grid Tools]
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| − | * [http://argon.sao.nrc.ca/~spgrid/ SpectroGrid2] with a java web start based certificate manager (also [https://spectrogrid2.nrc.ca/portal/?q=node/3 here])
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| − | * [http://www.jabacats.com/ JaBaCATs] Java Basic Certificate Authority Tools
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| − | * [http://portecle.sourceforge.net/ Portecle] - GUI to create, manage and examine keystores, keys, certificates, requests, revocation lists and more.
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| − | * [http://yellowcat1.free.fr/keytool_iui.html KeyTool IUI] the cryptography GUI tool
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| − | * [http://gridshib.globus.org/docs/gridshib-ca-0.5.1/ gridshib-ca] contains a java web start tool that installs user certificates
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| − | * [http://grix.arcs.org.au/ Grix] is a Java gui application to help users handle security related tasks within a grid environment
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