Apply SSL encryption to an external Web Help Desk PostgreSQL database

10/23/2018 4:32 PM

1/28/2025 1:28 PM

This article describes how to apply SSL encryption to an external Web Help Desk (WHD) PostgreSQL database.

Web Help Desk

1. Set an SSL connection on the server.
   See Secure TCP/IP Connections with SSL (© 2018 The PostgreSQL Global Development Group, available at https://www.postgresql.org/, obtained on 14 November 2018) for details. 
2. Start the database server with SSL enabled.
3. Configure the SSL connection in Web Help Desk.
   • If you are setting up a new Web Help Desk installation or upgrade, configure the connection using the Web Help Desk Getting Started Wizard.
   • If you are using an existing WHD installation, configure the connection by editing the .whd.properties file.
4. Complete the procedure. 

Configure the connection using the Getting Started Wizard 

1. In Web Help Desk Getting Started Wizard, select Use custom SQL database.
2. In the Database Name field, enter:
   whd?ssl=true

 

Configure the connection by editing the .whd.properties file 

1. Navigate to your WebHelpDesk directory.
   - Apple^® macOS^® : /Library/WebHelpDesk    
   - Microsoft^® Windows^®:  \Program Files\WebHelpDesk    
   - Linux: /usr/local/webhelpdesk
2. Navigate to WebHelpDesk > conf.
3. Open the .whd.properties file using a text editor (such as Notepad). 
4. In the file, edit the following entries:

   whd.db.port=5432

   whd.db.sid=

   whd.db.customUrl=

   whd.db.subprotocol=postgresql

   whd.db.password={DES}B/cdbZvGZws\

   whd.db.host=

   whd.db.useCustomUrl=NO

   whd.db.name=whd?ssl=true  #     This setting is very important!

   whd.db.username=whd

   whd.db.embedded=NO 

Complete the procedure 

1. Import the appropriate certificates to:
   • /bin/jre/lib/security/cacerts
   • NOTE: You can use the Porteclé application located at /bin/Portecle.jar. To run, use java -jar Portecle.jar
2. Stop and start Web Help Desk
3. Verify the SSL connection.
   If you are unable to connect: 
   1. Verify that the appropriate certificate was imported into cacerts.
   2. Verify the path to Web Help Desk.
   3. Start Web Help Desk in debug mode and send the log files to SolarWinds Support. 

For more information about importing SSL certificates with PostgreSQL, see the following resources on the PostgreSQL website:

• SSL Certificates for PostgreSQL (©, 2018 projektfarm GmbH, available at https://www.howtoforge.com/, obtained on 14 November 2018)
• SSL support in JDBC (© 2018 The PostgreSQL Global Development Group, available at https://www.postgresql.org/, obtained on 14 November 2018)

*Disclaimer: Please note, any content posted herein is provided as a suggestion or recommendation to you for your internal use. This is not part of the SolarWinds software or documentation that you purchased from SolarWinds, and the information set forth herein may come from third parties. Your organization should internally review and assess to what extent, if any, such custom scripts or recommendations will be incorporated into your environment.  You elect to use third party content at your own risk, and you will be solely responsible for the incorporation of the same, if any.