The ADSS Web RA installation process is quick and easy. All required components can be installed using a user-friendly installation wizard. Details of each page for installation wizard are explained in upcoming sections.

How it Works?


  1. You can install Web RA as a fresh instance using a newly created database on SQL Server. ADSS Signing Server can also be installed as a fresh instance on same deployment server where ADSS Web RA is being installed. After completing installation you can register a new enterprise user and start using Web RA application.
  2. You can install a new instance with an existing database, if you want to install a new instance on a database for which database schema either already been created. Upon successful installation, the new instance can be used with all your existing data.
  3. You can upgrade to an existing instance to the latest one, where you don't need to upgrade anything related to database. Upon successful installation all your existing data will be available to use.
  4. You can install ADSS Web RA instance in a load balancing environment to distribute traffic. This way two instances for ADSS Web RA will be running on two different deployment servers.
  5. You can also change database credentials with an easy step using installer, by selecting change database credentials option. Once it's executed successfully your application will be running using newly provided database credentials.
  6. You can uninstall ADSS Web RA application along with ADSS, if you don't want to use the application any more. On uninstallation all the web directories from IIS, and reference from Windows Services' will be removed permanently.  

Scope


ADSS Web RA comprises of five components and here are the details of these components:


  • ADSS Web RA Admin console that provides system administration and configurations.
  • ADSS Web RA Web interface that provides user services on web browsers.
  • ADSS Web RA API that utilizes the ASP.NET Web API framework to provide a REST architecture.
  • ADSS Web RA Device installed for SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrolment Protocol) which is supported by several manufacturers, including Microsoft and Cisco, and designed to make certificate issuance easier in particular in large-scale environments. So SCEP is installed independently along with ADSS Web RA instance that can later be used for the device certificate enrolment process.
  • ADSS Server to configure service profiles that use in certificate requests for multiple purposes including document signing, CSR based certificate device enrolment certificate etc.

Intended Readership


This manual is intended for ADSS Web RA Enterprise administrators who are responsible for the installation, configuration, and maintenance of the system. It is assumed that the reader has a basic knowledge of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) based web applications, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and general security.

Technical Support


If technical support is required, Ascertia has a dedicated support team providing debugging and integration assistance as well as general customer support. Ascertia Support can be accessed through Ascertia Ticketing System or email address: support@ascertia.com 


Ascertia provides formal support agreements with all product sales.  Contact sales@ascertia.com for further details.


A Product Support Questionnaire should be completed in order to provide Ascertia Support with information about your system environment, along with details of any issues encountered. When requesting help, it is always important to confirm these details:


  • System Platform.
  • ADSS Web RA application version number.
  • Details of the specific issue and relevant steps taken to reproduce it, if possible.
  • Database vendor, version and patch level.
  • Product log files.

Glossary


Following are the details of few technical terms that are being used in the user manual under installation and deployment section.


Field

Description

Web RA

 A short form of unified Web Registration Authority

ADSS Server

Advanced Digital Signature Services Server (a server-side product from Ascertia for providing certificate generation/revocation, certificate validation and other trust services).  ADSS Web RA uses this product for its back-end security functionality. 

Cert

A short form of Digital Certificate

DBMS

Database Management System

HSM

Hardware Security Module.

HTTP

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

HTTPS

HTTP over SSL/TLS connection 

SSL

Secure Sockets Layer