Certificate has not been signed by a trusted authority

This problem affects Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox Web browsers.

Problem

When you try to open the IBM® Flex System Manager Web interface, the following message or window is displayed:

For Microsoft Internet Explorer

A security message indicates that there is a problem with the security certificate; the security certificate was not issued by a trusted certificate authority.

The message might tell you to determine whether you want to trust the certifying authority, or it might strongly recommend that you close the Web page. The message might be slightly different depending on the installed version of Internet Explorer or Java™ Runtime Environment (JRE) and the JRE provider.

For Mozilla Firefox

The Website Certified by an Unknown Authority window is displayed. Depending on your version of Firefox, a message similar to the following might be displayed in the browser: This Connection is Untrusted. The certificate is not trusted because it is self-signed. The certificate is only valid for www.ibm.com.

Explanation

These types of messages indicate that your browser has examined the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate it received from the server and has determined that the certificate was not issued by a trusted certificate authority.

Resolution

To resolve the problem, complete the applicable steps:

Note: The procedure for accepting the new certificate might vary slightly from the following steps, depending on the version of Internet Explorer or Firefox that you are using.

For Microsoft Internet Explorer

Complete the following actions depending on the message that is displayed:

Table 1. Message descriptions and suggested actions
Message description	Suggested actions
The message indicates that you can view the certificate to determine whether you want to trust the certifying authority.	Choose one of the following actions: Temporary solution: Click View Certificate and Install Certificate to install the certificate and instruct the browser to trust the server. Permanent solution: Replace the default certificate with a certificate signed by a certificate authority (CA). For more information, see Planning Secure Sockets Layer configuration on IBM Flex System Manager®.
The message provides a recommendation that you close the Web page and do not continue to the Web site.	Choose one of the following actions: Temporary solution: Complete the following steps: Click Continue to this website to open the Web interface. Note: The message might indicate that continuing to the Web site is not recommended. However, you can proceed to the Web site to login to IBM Flex System Manager Web interface and install the certificate temporarily. Login to IBM Flex System Manager Web interface. Click Certificate Error in the Internet Explorer address bar. A message is displayed indicating that the certificate presented by this Web site was not issued by a trusted certificate authority. Click View certificates. A message is displayed indicating that the CA Root certificate is not trusted. Click Install Certificate to install the certificate and instruct the browser to trust the server. Permanent solution: Complete the following steps: Click Click here to close this webpage. Replace the default certificate with a certificate signed by a certificate authority (CA). For more information, see Planning Secure Sockets Layer configuration on IBM Flex System Manager.

For Mozilla Firefox

To resolve this problem, complete the applicable step:

Temporary solution:: An Untrusted Connection window is displayed. Click Add Exception. An Add Security Exception window is displayed. Make sure that the Permanently store this exception box is checked; then, click Confirm Security Exception.
Permanent solution:: Replace the default certificate with a certificate signed by a certificate authority (CA). For more information, see Planning Secure Sockets Layer configuration on IBM Flex System Manager.