Validating VMware virtualization server certificates in NetBackup

NetBackup can now validate VMware virtualization server certificates using their root or intermediate certificate authority (CA) certificates.

The following procedure is applicable for the NetBackup master server and all VMware access hosts.

To configure secure communication between VMware virtualization server and VMware access host

Configure an external CA trust store on the VMware access host.
Add CA certificates of the required VMware servers (VCenter, ESX, or ESXi server) in the trust store on the access host.
In case of Windows certificate store, you need to add the CA certificate to the Windows Trusted Root Certification Authorities.
Use the following command:
certutil.exe -addstore -f "Root" certificate filename

Use the nbsetconfig command to configure the following NetBackup configuration options on the access host:

ECA_TRUST_STORE_PATH	Specifies the file path to the certificate bundle file that contains all trusted root CA certificates. This option is specific to file-based certificates. You should not configure this option if Windows certificate store is used. If you have already configured this external CA option, append the VMware CA certificates to the existing external certificate trust store. If you have not configured the option, add all the required virtualization server CA certificates to the trust store and set the option. See ECA_TRUST_STORE_PATH for NetBackup servers and clients.
ECA_CRL_PATH	Specifies the path to the directory where the certificate revocation lists (CRL) of the external CA are located. If the configuration option is already configured, append the virtualization server CRLs to the CRL cache. If the option is not configured, add all the required CRLs to the CRL cache and then set the option. See ECA_CRL_PATH for NetBackup servers and clients.
VIRTUALIZATION_HOSTS_SECURE_CONNECT_ENABLED	Lets you enable the validation of a virtualization server's certificate. See VIRTUALIZATION_HOSTS_SECURE_CONNECT_ENABLED for servers and clients.
VIRTUALIZATION_CRL_CHECK	Lets you validate the revocation status of the virtualization server certificate against the CRLs. By default, the option is disabled. See VIRTUALIZATION_CRL_CHECK for NetBackup servers and clients.

For more information on external CA support in NetBackup, refer to the NetBackup Security and Encryption Guide.