Exporting a certificate from the Windows Certificate Store for use by Cerberus FTP Server

If you already have an existing SSL certificate that you would like to use for Cerberus FTP Server, you can export the certificate from the Windows certificate store to a .pfx file and then use that file directly with Cerberus FTP Server.  See the step-by-step instructions below.

This article assumes that you have already successfully installed the SSL certificate on the Windows machine. You will follow these steps to move or copy that working certificate to Cerberus FTP Server:

1. Export the SSL certificate from the Windows server with the private key and any intermediate certificates into a .pfx file.
2. Move the .pfx certificate and private key to the certificates folder of Cerberus FTP Server.
3. Configure Cerberus FTP Server to use the certificate.

The following screenshots are from a Windows 7 machine but any differences for Windows Server 2008 or 2003 are noted.

Export the certificate from the Windows MMC console

Note: These instructions will have you export the certificate using the MMC console.

1. Click on the Start menu and click Run.
2. Type in mmc and click OK.

   

3. Click on the File menu and click Add/Remove Snap-in…

   

4. If you are using Windows Server 2003, click on the Add button. Double-click on Certificates.

   

5. Click on Computer Account and click Next.

   

6. Leave Local Computer selected and click Finish.

   

7. If you are using Windows Server 2003, click the Close button. Click OK.

   

8. Click the plus sign next to Certificates in the left pane.

   

9. Click the plus sign next to the Personal folder and click on the Certificates folder. Right-click on the certificate you would like to export and select All Tasks and then Export…

   

10. In the Certificate Export Wizard click Next.

    

11. Choose “Yes, export the private key” and click Next.

    

12. Click the checkbox next to “Include all certificates in the certification path if possible” and click Next.

    

13. Enter and confirm a password. This password will be needed whenever the certificate is imported to another server.

    

14. Click Browse and find a location to save the .pfx file. Type in a name such as “cerberusftp_mydomain.pfx” and then click Next.

    

15. Click Finish. The .pfx file containing the certificates and the private key is now saved to the location you specified.

    

16. Open the Cerberus FTP Server Server Manager. Select the Security page and assign the exported file as the Certificate and Private Key. Set the password to read the file.