Note: This version of the VDT (1.11.0) is no longer supported. Feel free to look through the documentation and install it, but we cannot guarantee support for it. The current stable release is 2.0.0.

Setting up CA files in VDT 1.11.0

VDT comes with a set of files for well-known CAs (Certificate Authorities). More specifically these files are public keys and signing policies for various CAs.Having public keys for certain CAs installed in an appropriate location (see below) allows you to authenticate against remote hosts and services certified by these CA's.

As of VDT 1.11.0, the VDT gives the user an option to install CA files into any directory. Common installation directories are:

1) 'root': /etc/grid-security/certificates (if user has access to these directories)
2) 'local': $VDT_LOCATION/globus/share/certificates
3) Other location (such as /nfs/certificates to share the certificates on NFS to worker nodes)

How do you know which one to choose?

If you are installing the VDT as root and you intend for this to be the main Globus installation on your computer it makes sense to install the certificates in /etc/grid-security/certificates. Note that this option will only be available to users installing as "root".
If you will have multiple Globus installations and this will not be the installation used for the services (gatekeeper, gridftp, etc.) OR if you want to use the certificates from the current installation without overwriting your existing certificates in /etc/grid-security then you should choose the 'local' option.
If you already have CA files installed into /etc/grid-security/certificates (e.g. by a system administrator) and would like to use them, you will need to create a symlink from $VDT_LOCATION/globus/TRUSTED_CA pointing at your certificates.

More information on installing the certificates

When the CA Certificates are installed, the VDT does the following as part of the install process:

Creates a symlink $VDT_LOCATION/globus/TRUSTED_CA to point to the true location of the certificates directory (based on user's choice discussed above)
Sets X509_CERT_DIR environment variable in the $VDT_LOCATION/setup.*sh files to point to $VDT_LOCATION/globus/TRUSTED_CA. This ensures that Globus components always use the trusted CAs' files from the VDT installation, provided, of course, that the user sources the corresponding setup.*sh file before using VDT components (as any good user should).