Configuring DCM

Digital Certificate Manager (DCM) provides a browser-based user interface that you can use to manage and configure digital certificates for your applications and users. The user interface is divided into two main frames: a navigation frame and a task frame.

You use the navigation frame to select the tasks to manage certificates or the applications that use them. While some individual tasks appear directly in the main navigation frame, most tasks in the navigation frame are organized into categories. For example, Manage Certificates is a task category that contains a variety of individual guided tasks, such as View certificate, Renew certificate, Import certificate, and so forth. If an item in the navigation frame is a category that contains more than one task, an arrow appears to the left of it. The arrow indicates that when you select the category link, an expanded list of tasks displays so that you may choose which task to perform.

With the exception of the Fast Path category, each task in the navigation frame is a guided task that takes you through a series of steps to complete the task quickly and easily. The Fast Path category provides a cluster of certificate and application management functions which allows experienced DCM users to quickly access a variety of related tasks from a central set of pages.

Which tasks are available in the navigation frame vary based on the certificate store in which you are working. Also, the category and number of tasks that you see in the navigation frame vary depending on the authorizations that your IBM i user profile has. All tasks for operating a CA, managing the certificates that applications use, and other system level tasks are available only to IBM i security officers or administrators. The security officer or administrator must have *SECADM and *ALLOBJ special authorities to view and use these tasks. Users without these special authorities have access to user certificate functions only.

To learn how to configure DCM and begin using it to manage your certificates, review these topics: