Notify when DCM certificate is near to expire

As shown below you have the ability to do this via SQL and API's. We had been asked by a client to do this already and built the feature into our IBM i monitoring tool that runs from Nagios, it will automatically identify the certificates that are coming near the expiry and send out notifications. There are some issues with the API which we raised a PMR with IBM for, it under investigation but should be resolved soon (Its just a documentation error). Chris...

IBM does not intend to provide an additional solution to this request at this time, so it is being closed.

In addition to the IBM i Service QSYS2.CERTIFICATE_INFO and APIs mentioned in the comments, a utility to be notified about upcoming certificate expirations is available as part of the IBM i Security and Compliance Tools from lab services: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-security.
Here is a paragraph from the Certificate Expiration Manager PDF that explains the functionality being requested which resolves the request for enhancement.

Using the Certificate Expiration Manager, you can be notified about upcoming TLS certificate expirations. The date range in which a certificate is determined to expire is defined by adding a number of days to the current date (program run date). If a certificate's notAfterDate is between the current date and the calculated expiration checking date, the certificate is reported as a candidate for expiration. These notifications can be sent via email or via Syslog to a central SIEM. The tool is written in Java and is designed to run on any platform that supports Java, including Windows, Mac, Linux, AIX, and even natively on the IBM i. Designed with both a GUI and non-GUI interface, it can truly run in any environment. Or use the GUI to define the parameters, save to an XML based configuration file, and then run headless on the IBM i.

The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a “nice to have” low priority feature. Although there is another way to set up notifications through use of a simple SQL, it would certainly be nice to have an option in the DCM tool itself to be able to set up notifications of certificate expirations.

Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community, and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac

For more details about CAAC's role with RFEs, see http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/Blogs/i-Can/May-2017/COMMON-Americas-Advisory-Council-%28CAAC%29-and-RFEs/

Nancy Uthke-Schmucki - CAAC Program Manager

The CEAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a HIGH priority requirement that is important to address.

As user encryption becomes more prevalent the need to manage certificate becomes more important and have an automated alert/count down would simplify this process.

Background: The COMMON Europe Advisory Council (CEAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CEAC has a crucial role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community and has therefore reviewed your RFE.

To find out how CEAC help to shape the future of IBM i, see CEAC @ ibm.biz/BdYSYj and the article "The Five Hottest IBM i RFEs Of The Quarter" at ibm.biz/BdYSZT

Therese Eaton – CEAC Program Manager, IBM

The requested enhancement to the DCM tool would be a significant benefit by providing a complete interface to perform all related tasks, even though this functionality is possible through the use of the API as described in the comments below.

IBM has received the requirement and is evaluating it. IBM will provide a response after evaluation is complete.

You can always use the gsk_attribute_get_cert_info API to retrieve this information.

Hi

I know in this RFE you are requesting a notification to be pushed to you via message or email and I see the value in that but I just wanted to check that you know that in 7.4 IBM added APIs to query and manage certificates?

You could use the following API to retrieve information about the certificate currently assigned to an application (QycdRetrieveCertUsageInfo).
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1120281


And as of 7.4 TR2 (and 7.3 TR8) you can query the certificate status more easily using the IBM i Service QSYS2.CERTIFICATE_INFO
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6156105

Example from IBM on how to get Certs that will expire in the next month below:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/ssw_ibm_i_74/rzajq/rzajqudfcertificateinfo.htm

CREATE VARIABLE MYLIB.SYSTEM_CERT_PW VARCHAR(30);

SET MYLIB.SYSTEM_CERT_PW = 'cert_pwd';

SELECT * FROM TABLE(QSYS2.CERTIFICATE_INFO(CERTIFICATE_STORE_PASSWORD=> MYLIB.SYSTEM_CERT_PW))
WHERE VALIDITY_END < CURRENT DATE + 1 MONTH;

I hope this helps, #StaySafe
Best wishes, Steve B
IBM Champion, CEAC Member & Technical Director of the i-UG.co.uk