Error: “SSL Certificate failed validation” After Configuring the SSL Certificate File

Issue

After configuring the SSL certificate file and key in the Tableau Server Configuration dialog box, you may see the following error messages:

“The specified SSL Certificate failed validation. Check that it is a valid PEM-encoded x509 certificate.”
Or
“The specified SSL Certificate Key failed validation. Check that it is a valid RSA or DSA key and that it is not password protected.”

Environment

Tableau Server
SSL

Resolution

Option 1

If the certificate is internally generated (self-signed), regenerate the SSL Certificate and the CSR. For more information, refer to the Example: SSL Certificate - Generate a Key and CSR. Note: When recreating the certificate, be careful to avoid any typos.

Option 2

If the certificate came from an external certification authority, such as Verisign or GoDaddy, contact the vendor for assistance.

Cause

These error messages may display because of one of several reasons:

The passphrase used in creating the key does not match the passphrase used in the certificate signing request (CSR).
The certificate or key files may be corrupt, or contain typos.
If a key is created without the x509 flag, this error can occur.