As a exercise, I wanted to figure out how to create an SSL certificate that I could use on this website for securing the admin section and my credentials at login. After a quick google search, I yielded two solutions – either create a certificate using OpenSSL or use Microsoft’s IIS Resource Kit.

I opted for the OpenSSL solution, however in hindsight, it would’ve been alot easier if I had just used the MS Resource Kit. I had to jump through quite a few hoops to get the OpenSSL solution working. For tutorials on both methods check the following links.

• Tutorial for creating certificates using OpenSSL for Windows
  
• Tutorial for creating certificates using Microsoft’s IIS Resource Kit

Even though the OpenSSL tutorial says ‘for IIS 5’, the directions work fine for IIS 6. Another thing to note is that during installation of OpenSSL, it asked to replace a few DLL files. I replaced mine, but not before backing them up. So far I have not had to revert to my previously installed files.