Configuring TCPS for database client connections on Flashgrid-enabled clusters

In this document we assume the following port assignments (all four ports must be different):

• TCP SCAN Listener: 1521
• TCP Local Listener: 1522
• TCPS SCAN Listener: 1523
• TCPS Local Listener: 1524

---

1. Add TCPS port to SCAN Proxy configuration

Do the following on all database nodes.

1.1 Modify /etc/flashgrid-scan.cfg

#scan_port: 1521
scan_port_list: [1521, 1523]

1.2 Restart SCAN Proxy service

# systemctl restart flashgrid-scan-proxy.service

---

2. Add iptables forwarding rule for Local Listener TCPS port

Do the following on all database nodes.

2.1 Remove immutable flag from /etc/sysconfig/iptables

# chattr -i /etc/sysconfig/iptables

2.2 In /etc/sysconfig/iptables add the following forwarding rule under similar rule for TCP port (replace X with address corresponding to the node):

-A PREROUTING -i eth0 -p tcp -m tcp --dport 1524 -j DNAT --to-destination 192.168.1.X

2.3 Add immutable flag to /etc/sysconfig/iptables

# chattr +i /etc/sysconfig/iptables

2.4 Restart iptables service

# systemctl restart iptables.service

---

3. Add TCPS port to Local Listener configuration

On the first node:

[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl modify listener -p "TCP:1522/TCPS:1524";

On each database node, modify LISTENER parameter in listener.ora under GI home (replace rac1.example.com with corresponding host name):

LISTENER =
  (DESCRIPTION_LIST =
    (DESCRIPTION =
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = rac1.example.com)(PORT = 1522))
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = LISTENER))
      (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST =rac1.example.com)(PORT = 1524))
    )
  )

SECURE_REGISTER_LISTENER_SCAN1 = (IPC,TCPS)
SECURE_REGISTER_LISTENER_SCAN2 = (IPC,TCPS)
SECURE_REGISTER_LISTENER_SCAN3 = (IPC,TCPS)
SECURE_REGISTER_LISTENER = (IPC,TCPS)

From the first node:

[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl stop listener
[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl start listener

[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl config listener
Name: LISTENER
Type: Database Listener
Network: 1, Owner: grid
Home: <CRS home>
End points: TCP:1522/TCPS:1524
Listener is enabled.
Listener is individually enabled on nodes: 
Listener is individually disabled on nodes: 

[grid@rac1 ~]$ lsnrctl status
Listening Endpoints Summary...
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=rac1.example.com)(PORT=1522)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(KEY=LISTENER)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcps)(HOST=rac1.example.com)(PORT=1524)))

From the second node:

[grid@rac2 ~]$ lsnrctl status
Listening Endpoints Summary...
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=rac2.example.com)(PORT=1522)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(KEY=LISTENER)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcps)(HOST=rac2.example.com)(PORT=1524)))

---

4. Add TCPS port to SCAN Listener configuration

On the first database node:

[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl stop scan_listener
[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl stop scan
[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl modify scan_listener -p TCP:1521/TCPS:1523
[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl start scan
[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl start scan_listener

[grid@rac1 ~]$ srvctl config scan_listener
SCAN Listeners for network 1:
Registration invited nodes: 
Registration invited subnets: 
Endpoints: TCP:1521/TCPS:1523
SCAN Listener LISTENER_SCAN1 exists
SCAN Listener is enabled.
SCAN Listener LISTENER_SCAN2 exists
SCAN Listener is enabled.
SCAN Listener LISTENER_SCAN3 exists
SCAN Listener is enabled.

[grid@rac1 ~]$ lsnrctl status listener_scan3
Listening Endpoints Summary...
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=ipc)(KEY=LISTENER_SCAN3)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcps)(HOST=192.168.1.23)(PORT=1523)))
  (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=192.168.1.23)(PORT=1521)))
The listener supports no services
The command completed successfully

[grid@rac1 ~]$ crsctl stat res -p |grep ENDPOINTS
ENDPOINTS=TCP:1525
ENDPOINTS=TCP:1522 TCPS:1524
ENDPOINTS=TCP:1521 TCPS:1523
ENDPOINTS=TCP:1521 TCPS:1523
ENDPOINTS=TCP:1521 TCPS:1523

---

5. Create SSL Certificates and wallets for DB nodes and client

5.1 Create a self-signed CA (You can use your own CA and safely skip this step)

On the first database node:

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/CA
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ export CA_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/CA
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet create -wallet  $CA_HOME  -auto_login -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet remove -trusted_cert_all -wallet $CA_HOME -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $CA_HOME -self_signed -dn "CN=TEST-CA" -keysize 1024 -validity 3650 -sign_alg sha256 -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet export -wallet $CA_HOME -dn "CN=TEST-CA" -cert /u01/app/oracle/CA/testCA.cer -pwd Oracle123

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet display -wallet $CA_HOME -summary
Oracle PKI Tool Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.4.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 2004, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Requested Certificates:
User Certificates:
Subject:        CN=TEST-CA
Trusted Certificates:
Subject:        CN=TEST-CA

5.2 Create Cluster Wallet and Certificate

On the first database node:

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ mkdir -p /u01/app/oracle/wallet
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ export W_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/wallet
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet create -wallet $W_HOME -pwd Oracle123 -auto_login -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $W_HOME -trusted_cert -cert /u01/app/oracle/CA/testCA.cer -pwd Oracle123

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet display -wallet $W_HOME -summary
Oracle PKI Tool Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.4.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 2004, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Requested Certificates:
User Certificates:
Trusted Certificates:
Subject:        CN=TEST-CA

Find out what is your scan name (from oracle or root user):

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ srvctl config scan|grep "SCAN name"
SCAN name: marihcheck-scan.example.com, Network: 1

Instead of marihcheck-scan indicate scan name returned from the previous command:

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ export W_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/wallet
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ export CA_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/CA
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $W_HOME -dn "CN=marihcheck-scan" -keysize 1024 -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet export -wallet $W_HOME -dn "CN=marihcheck-scan" -request $W_HOME/marihcheck.req -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki cert create -wallet $CA_HOME -request $W_HOME/marihcheck.req -cert $W_HOME/marihcheck.cer -validity 3650 -sign_alg sha256 -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $W_HOME -user_cert -cert $W_HOME/marihcheck.cer -pwd Oracle123

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet display -wallet $W_HOME -summary
Oracle PKI Tool Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.4.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 2004, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Requested Certificates:
User Certificates:
Subject:        CN=marihcheck-scan
Trusted Certificates:
Subject:        CN=TEST-CA

5.3 Create Client Wallet and Certificate

From the first database node:

Instead of clientvm indicate hostname of the client:

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ export W_HOME=/u01/app/oracle/wallet/client
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet create -wallet $W_HOME -pwd Oracle123 -auto_login -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $W_HOME -trusted_cert -cert /u01/app/oracle/CA/testCA.cer -pwd Oracle123

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $W_HOME -dn "CN=clientvm" -keysize 1024 -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet export -wallet $W_HOME -dn "CN=clientvm" -request $W_HOME/clientvm.req -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki cert create -wallet $CA_HOME -request $W_HOME/clientvm.req -cert $W_HOME/clientvm.cer -validity 3650 -sign_alg sha256 -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet add -wallet $W_HOME -user_cert -cert $W_HOME/clientvm.cer -pwd Oracle123
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ orapki wallet display -wallet $W_HOME -summary
Oracle PKI Tool Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.4.0.0.0
Copyright (c) 2004, 2019, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Requested Certificates:
User Certificates:
Subject:        CN=clientvm
Trusted Certificates:
Subject:        CN=TEST-CA

Change permission on server and client cwallet.sso file:

[oracle@rac1 wallet]$ chmod 640 /u01/app/oracle/wallet/cwallet.sso
[oracle@rac1 wallet]$ chmod 640 /u01/app/oracle/wallet/client/cwallet.sso

Create wallet location on the clientvm and copy generated client wallet from rac1 to the client:

[root@clientvm ~]# mkdir /usr/lib/oracle/19.5/client64/wallet
[root@clientvm ~]# cd /usr/lib/oracle/19.5/client64/wallet
[root@clientvm ~]# scp oracle@rac1:/u01/app/oracle/wallet/client/* .

Delete client folder from rac1:

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ rm -rf /u01/app/oracle/wallet/client/

Copy generated server wallet from rac1 to rac2:

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ scp -r /u01/app/oracle/wallet oracle@rac2:/u01/app/oracle/
cwallet.sso              100% 2445   638.3KB/s   00:00
cwallet.sso.lck          100%    0     0.0KB/s   00:00
ewallet.p12              100% 2400   540.6KB/s   00:00
ewallet.p12.lck          100%    0     0.0KB/s   00:00

---

6. Configure Oracle network files

6.1 Add the following lines to the server side sqlnet.ora file in RDBMS and GI homes accordingly (on all database nodes)

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ cat /u01/app/oracle/product/19.3.0/dbhome_1/network/admin/sqlnet.ora
WALLET_LOCATION =
   (SOURCE =
     (METHOD = FILE)
     (METHOD_DATA =
       (DIRECTORY = /u01/app/oracle/wallet)
     )
   )

SSL_VERSION = 0
SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (TCPS,BEQ)
SSL_CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION = FALSE

[grid@rac1 ~]$ cat /u01/app/19.3.0/grid/network/admin/sqlnet.ora
WALLET_LOCATION =
   (SOURCE =
     (METHOD = FILE)
     (METHOD_DATA =
       (DIRECTORY = /u01/app/oracle/wallet)
     )
   )

SSL_CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION = FALSE

6.2 Add the following entries to the client side sqlnet.ora file:

[root@clientvm admin]# cat sqlnet.ora
WALLET_LOCATION =
   (SOURCE =
     (METHOD = FILE)
     (METHOD_DATA =
       (DIRECTORY = /usr/lib/oracle/19.5/client64/wallet)
     )
   )

6.3 Add the following lines to the listener.ora in GI home (/u01/app/19.3.0/grid/network/admin/listener.ora) on all database nodes

SSL_CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION = FALSE

WALLET_LOCATION =
  (SOURCE =
    (METHOD = FILE)
    (METHOD_DATA =
      (DIRECTORY = /u01/app/oracle/wallet)
    )
  )

6.4 Update NODEFQDN entry to TCPS/1524 in tnsnames.ora in RDBMS home on all database nodes

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ cat /u01/app/oracle/product/19.3.0/dbhome_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora

DONOTDELETE,NODEFQDN =
  (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(Host = rac1.example.com)(Port = 1524))

[oracle@rac2 ~]$ cat /u01/app/oracle/product/19.3.0/dbhome_1/network/admin/tnsnames.ora

DONOTDELETE,NODEFQDN =
  (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(Host = rac2.example.com)(Port = 1524))

6.5 Reset local_listener parameter to NODEFQND

[oracle@rac1 ~]$ export ORACLE_SID=orclcdb1
[oracle@rac1 ~]$ sqlplus / as sysdba

SQL> alter system set local_listener='NODEFQDN';

6.6 Restart listeners:

[root@rac1 ~]# srvctl stop listener; srvctl start listener
[root@rac1 ~]# srvctl stop scan_listener; srvctl start scan_listener

6.7 Add the following entries to the client side tnsnames.ora

[root@clientvm admin]# cat tnsnames.ora
TEST_SSL =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = marihcheck-scan.example.com)(PORT = 1523))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = orclcdb)
    )
  )

TEST_SSL1 =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = rac1.example.com)(PORT = 1524))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = orclcdb)
    )
  )

TEST_SSL2 =
  (DESCRIPTION =
    (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCPS)(HOST = rac2.example.com)(PORT = 1524))
    (CONNECT_DATA =
      (SERVER = DEDICATED)
      (SERVICE_NAME = orclcdb)
    )
  )

---

7. Test connections

[root@clientvm admin]# export ORACLE_HOME=/usr/lib/oracle/19.5/client64
[root@clientvm admin]# export PATH=$ORACLE_HOME/bin:$PATH
[root@clientvm admin]# export TNS_ADMIN=$ORACLE_HOME/network/admin

[root@clientvm admin]# sqlplus system/oracle@TEST_SSL

SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Thu Mar 19 11:52:33 2020
Version 19.5.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Last Successful login time: Sat Mar 14 2020 19:54:53 +00:00

Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.6.0.0.0

SQL> SELECT SYS_CONTEXT('USERENV', 'network_protocol') FROM DUAL;

SYS_CONTEXT('USERENV','NETWORK_PROTOCOL')
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tcps

[root@clientvm admin]# sqlplus system/oracle@TEST_SSL1

SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Thu Mar 19 11:53:23 2020
Version 19.5.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Last Successful login time: Thu Mar 19 2020 11:53:20 +00:00

Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.6.0.0.0

SQL>

[root@clientvm admin]# sqlplus system/oracle@TEST_SSL2

SQL*Plus: Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production on Thu Mar 19 11:53:23 2020
Version 19.5.0.0.0

Copyright (c) 1982, 2019, Oracle.  All rights reserved.

Last Successful login time: Thu Mar 19 2020 11:53:20 +00:00

Connected to:
Oracle Database 19c Enterprise Edition Release 19.0.0.0.0 - Production
Version 19.6.0.0.0

SQL>

Note: The same steps are described https://kb.flashgrid.io/configuring-tcps-for-client-connections#6-configure-oracle-network-files, which is also written by me.