Manually Update Windows Trusted Root Certificates

Manually Update Windows Trusted Root Certificates KB ID 0001831

Problem

These days your trusted root certificates are simply updated with Windows Update, but what if your servers have no internet access? In this example I will manually update the root certs by downloading them on a machine WITH internet access then importing on another machine that has not.

Bear in mind: If none of your machines have internet access they cannot check certificate revocation lists etc – so you may still get some errors. You may want to consider deploying you own internal PKI.

Microsoft PKI Planning and Deploying Certificate Services

Solution: Update Windows Trusted Root Certificates

On a machine that HAS INTERNET ACCESS open an administrative command window and use the following commands.

[box]

mkdir c:\trusted-root-certs
cd c:\trusted-root-certs
Certutil.exe -generateSSTFromWU roots.sst

[/box]

You can (if you wish) then double click the SST file you’ve just created and (once you expand the folders on the left.) It should look like this.

Now copy that SST file to a machine THAT DOES NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.

Note: I’ve created the same folder (c:\trusted-root-certs) and open an administrative PowerShell window, then issue the following commands.

[box]

$sstStore = ( Get-ChildItem -Path c:\trusted-root-certs\roots.sst )
$sstStore | Import-Certificate -CertStoreLocation Cert:\LocalMachine\Root

[/box]

Of course you may wish to script this if you have many machines to update, and host roots.sst in a central location so you can periodically update it.

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

NA

Cisco FTD (and ASA) Creating AnyConnect Profiles

KB ID 0001685

Problem

A few days ago I did an article on Deploying Cisco AnyConnect with the Cisco FTD, there I glossed over the AnyConnect profile section. For a long time now, we have been able to edit the AnyConnect profile from within the firewall (if we are running ASA code!) But for the FTD we need to take a step backwards and go back to using the ‘offline’ AnyConnect profile editor.

Solution

Firstly you need to download the offline profile editor, you will find it on the Cisco AnyConnect Mobility Client download page;

I wont insult your intelligence, the setup is straight forward;

Launch the editor, and the screen you will see is exactly the same as you would normally see while using the profile editor in a Cisco ASA, (when launched from within the ASDM).

Note: I’m not going to go though all the settings, (this post would become immense!) Typically I allow remote (RDP) connections, and set the public FDQN for my AnyConnect profile.

Once you have finished, you can simply save the settings as an XML file.

Import an AnyConnect ‘Profile XML File’ into Cisco ASA

As mentioned above with all ‘modern’ versions of the ASDM/AnyConnect client you can create and edit an AnyConnect profile directly from within the ASDM. But (for completeness) here’s how to import one you created externally, (or exported form another firewall).

Configuration >Remote Access VPN > Network (Client) Access > AnyConnect Client Profile > Import.

Import an AnyConnect ‘Profile XML File’ into Cisco FTD

Objects > AnyConnect Client Profiles > Create AnyConnect Client Profile > Give it a name > Upload.

Browse to, and select the previously created XML file > Open.

Then save and deploy the changes (this takes ages!).

You can now select this ‘profile file’ when setting up AnyConnect, or edit any existing AnyConnect Remote Access VPN configuration, and add this profile to it.

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Cisco Firepower 1010 Configuration

CA ARCserve Error W3831

KB ID 0000404 

Problem

Seen on CA Arcserve 11.1

Backup fails with the following error:

W3831
Unable to find any media that can be used in this job.
Backup Operation Failed.

Solution

There’s probably a few reasons for this error, in my case the fix was alarmingly simple.

1. Select Devices and locate your tape drive. (notice mine says <Offline>).

2. Simply right click the drive and bring it back “Online”.

 

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

NA