Due to the popularity of Windows 2008 Server Core I have seen frequently questions about how to configure SSL on IIS7 with only command-line. Since I wandered that path few months back I thought of putting this article/guide together.

There are 3 simple steps involved

1. Importing the Certificate into relevant Certificate Store

If you have a .CER file  
certutil –addstore MY test-cert.cer 

OR

If you have .PFX file
certutil -importpfx <filename.pfx>

OR

Create and Import test certificate using MakeCert.EXE (which comes with Visual Studio SDK Tools)
makecert -r -pe -n "CN=sukhyper-v" -b 01/01/2008 -e 01/01/2010 -eku 1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1 -ss my -sr localMachine -sky exchange -sp "Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider" -sy 12

2. Configure SSL with HTTP.SYS (command below should be entered on a single line)

netsh http add sslcert ipport=0.0.0.0:443 certstorename=MY certhash=b63293e9c24f7fda4c671beac4a0eff29e0d3b52
appid={5a599f4f-02dc-4120-8646-74fcbc5b4827}

appid can be any unique GUID but I used ‘Key Container’ value of the certificate for ease of use!

Output of certutil –store MY ================ Certificate 1 ================ Serial Number: ab171a1627a592964d358ec9736da78a Issuer: CN=sukhyper-v NotBefore: 1/1/2008 12:00 AM NotAfter: 1/1/2010 12:00 AM Subject: CN=sukhyper-v Signature matches Public Key Root Certificate: Subject matches Issuer Cert Hash(sha1): b6 32 93 e9 c2 4f 7f da 4c 67 1b ea c4 a0 ef f2 9e 0d 3b 52   Key Container = 5a599f4f-02dc-4120-8646-74fcbc5b4827   Unique container name: ec4840c8098979e9cc0eb699ef979eaf_931d1088-a4b3-4332-b918-8d75ab3e674e   Provider = Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider Encryption test passed

3. Add HTTPS binding on the website using this certificate

appcmd set site “Default Web Site” /+bindings.[protocol=’https’, bindingInformation=’*:443:’]

Other related commands
Enforce SSL for the site with 128bit
appcmd set config "Default Web Site" -section:access -sslFlags:Ssl,Ssl128 -commit:apphost

Add SSL Binding in IIS
appcmd set site "Default Web Site" /+bindings.[protocol='https',bindingInformation='*:443:']

Remove SSL Binding in IIS
appcmd set site "Default Web Site" /-bindings.[protocol='https',bindingInformation='*:443:']

Show Certificate endpoint from HTTP.SYS
netsh http show sslcert

Delete Certificate endpoint from HTTP.SYS
netsh http delete sslcert ipport=0.0.0.0:443

View Certificate Store
certutil -store  MY

View Certificate Store with UI
certutil -viewstore  MY