Deploy a global Google-managed certificate with DNS authorization

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This tutorial walks you through the certificate deployment process using a Google-managed certificate with DNS authorization as an example.

The following load balancers support Google-managed certificates with DNS authorization:

• Global external Application Load Balancer
• Classic Application Load Balancer
• Cross-region internal Application Load Balancer
• Global external proxy Network Load Balancer

For a comparison of the supported types of domain authorization, see Domain authorizations.

If you want to migrate an existing certificate to Certificate Manager, follow the steps in Migrate certificates to Certificate Manager instead.

Objectives

This tutorial shows you how to complete the following tasks:

• Create a Google-managed certificate issued by a publicly trusted certificate authority with DNS authorization by using Certificate Manager.
• Deploy the certificate to a supported load balancer by using a target HTTPS proxy.

For more information about the certificate deployment process, see Deployment overview.

Before you begin

1. In the Google Cloud console, on the project selector page, select or create a Google Cloud project.

   Note: If you don't plan to keep the resources that you create in this procedure, create a project instead of selecting an existing project. After you finish these steps, you can delete the project, removing all resources associated with the project.

   Go to project selector

2. The gcloud CLI version 465.0.0 or later is required to deploy the certificate. To check your gcloud CLI version, run the following command:

   gcloud --version
   

3. To update the gcloud CLI run the following command.

   gcloud components update
   

4. Make sure that you have the following roles to complete the tasks in this tutorial:

   • Certificate Manager Owner: Required to create and manage Certificate Manager resources.
   • Compute Load Balancer Admin or Compute Network Admin: Required to create and manage HTTPS target proxy.
   • DNS Administrator: Required if you want to use Cloud DNS as your DNS solution.

   For more information, see the following:

   • Roles and permissions for Certificate Manager
   • Compute Engine IAM roles and permissions for Compute Engine
   • Access control with IAM for Cloud DNS
   Note: If you aren't assigned the permissions or roles, request the missing roles from the Identity and Access Management (IAM) Administrator who has the Project IAM Admin role (roles/resourcemanager.projectIamAdmin).

Create a Google-managed certificate with DNS authorization

Complete the steps in this section to create a DNS authorization and a Google-managed certificate that references that DNS authorization.

Create a DNS authorization

Create the DNS authorization as described in this section. If you're creating a DNS authorization for a wildcard certificate, such as *.myorg.example.com, configure the DNS authorization for the parent domain—for example, myorg.example.com.

gcloud

gcloud certificate-manager dns-authorizations create AUTHORIZATION_NAME \
   --domain="DOMAIN_NAME"
gcloud certificate-manager dns-authorizations describe AUTHORIZATION_NAME

To use per-project DNS authorization (Preview), run the following command:

gcloud certificate-manager dns-authorizations create AUTHORIZATION_NAME \
   --domain="DOMAIN_NAME" \
   --type="PER_PROJECT_RECORD"
gcloud certificate-manager dns-authorizations describe AUTHORIZATION_NAME

Replace the following:

• AUTHORIZATION_NAME: the name of the DNS authorization.
• DOMAIN_NAME: the name of the domain for which you are creating this DNS authorization. The domain name must be a fully qualified domain name, such as myorg.example.com.

The command returns an output similar to the following. Use the CNAME record from the output to add to your DNS configuration.

createTime: '2022-01-14T13:35:00.258409106Z'
dnsResourceRecord:
data: 0e40fc77-a37d-4eb8-8fe1-eea2e18d12d9.4.authorize.certificatemanager.goog.
name: _acme-challenge.myorg.example.com.
type: CNAME
domain: myorg.example.com
name: projects/myProject/locations/global/dnsAuthorizations/myAuthorization
updateTime: '2022-01-14T13:35:01.571086137Z'

Note: Certificate Manager only supports Certificate Authority Service as the certificate issuer for per-project DNS authorization. Certificates issued by other authorities, such as Let's Encrypt CA, are not supported with this authorization method.

Terraform

To create a DNS authorization, you can use a google_certificate_manager_dns_authorization resource.

resource "google_certificate_manager_dns_authorization" "default" {
  name        = "${local.name}-dnsauth-${random_id.tf_prefix.hex}"
  description = "The default dns auth"
  domain      = local.domain
  labels = {
    "terraform" : true
  }
}

To learn how to apply or remove a Terraform configuration, see Basic Terraform commands.

Add the CNAME record to your DNS configuration

If you're using Google Cloud to manage your DNS, complete the steps in this section. Otherwise, consult the documentation for your third-party DNS solution.

Before completing the steps in this section, make sure you have created a public DNS zone.

When you create a DNS authorization, the gcloud CLI command returns the corresponding CNAME record. You must add this CNAME record to your DNS configuration in the DNS zone of the target domain as follows:

gcloud

1. Initiate the DNS record transaction:

  gcloud dns record-sets transaction start --zone="DNS_ZONE_NAME"

Replace DNS_ZONE_NAME with the name of the target DNS zone.

1. Add the CNAME record to the target DNS zone:

  gcloud dns record-sets transaction add CNAME_RECORD \
      --name="_acme-challenge.DOMAIN_NAME." \
      --ttl="30" \
      --type="CNAME" \
      --zone="DNS_ZONE_NAME"

Replace the following:

• CNAME_RECORD: the full data value of the CNAME record returned by the Google Cloud CLI command that created the corresponding DNS authorization.
• DOMAIN_NAME: the name of the target domain. The domain name must be a fully qualified domain name, such as myorg.example.com. You must also include the trailing period after the target domain name.
• DNS_ZONE_NAME: the name of the target DNS zone.

See the following example:

  gcloud dns record-sets transaction add 0e40fc77-a37d-4eb8-8fe1-eea2e18d12d9.4.authorize.certificatemanager.goog. \
      --name="_acme-challenge.myorg.example.com." \
      --ttl="30" \
      --type="CNAME" \
      --zone="myorg-example-com"
  

1. Run the DNS record transaction to save your changes:

  gcloud dns record-sets transaction execute --zone="DNS_ZONE_NAME"
  

Replace DNS_ZONE_NAME with the name of the target DNS zone.

Terraform

To add the CNAME record to your DNS configuration, you can use a google_dns_record_set resource.

resource "google_dns_record_set" "cname" {
  name         = google_certificate_manager_dns_authorization.default.dns_resource_record[0].name
  managed_zone = google_dns_managed_zone.default.name
  type         = google_certificate_manager_dns_authorization.default.dns_resource_record[0].type
  ttl          = 300
  rrdatas      = [google_certificate_manager_dns_authorization.default.dns_resource_record[0].data]
}

Create a Google-managed certificate referencing the DNS authorization

To create a Google-managed certificate that references the DNS authorization you created in the previous steps, do the following:

gcloud

For a Global external Application Load Balancer, a Classic Application Load Balancer, or a Global external proxy Network Load Balancer:

Run the following command:

gcloud certificate-manager certificates create CERTIFICATE_NAME \
   --domains=DOMAIN_NAME \
   --dns-authorizations=AUTHORIZATION_NAME

Replace the following:

• CERTIFICATE_NAME: a unique name of the certificate.
• DOMAIN_NAME: the target domain of the certificate. The domain name must be a fully qualified domain name, such as myorg.example.com.
• AUTHORIZATION_NAME: the name of the DNS authorization you created for this certificate.

To create a Google-managed certificate with a wildcard domain name, use the following command. A wildcard domain name certificate covers all first-level subdomains of a given domain.

gcloud certificate-manager certificates create CERTIFICATE_NAME \
   --domains="*.DOMAIN_NAME,DOMAIN_NAME" \
   --dns-authorizations=AUTHORIZATION_NAME

Replace the following:

• CERTIFICATE_NAME: a unique name of the certificate.
• DOMAIN_NAME: the target domain of the certificate. The asterisk dot prefix (*.) signifies a wildcard certificate. The domain name must be a fully qualified domain name, such as myorg.example.com.
• AUTHORIZATION_NAME: the name of the DNS authorization that you created for this certificate.

For a Cross-region internal Application Load Balancer:

Run the following command:

gcloud certificate-manager certificates create CERTIFICATE_NAME \
    --domains=DOMAIN_NAME \
    --dns-authorizations=AUTHORIZATION_NAME \
    --scope=all-regions

Replace the following:

• CERTIFICATE_NAME: a unique name of the certificate.
• DOMAIN_NAME: the target domain of the certificate. The domain name must be a fully qualified domain name, such as myorg.example.com.
• AUTHORIZATION_NAME: the name of the DNS authorization you created for this certificate.

To create a Google-managed certificate with a wildcard domain name, use the following command. A wildcard domain name certificate covers all first-level subdomains of a given domain.

gcloud certificate-manager certificates create CERTIFICATE_NAME \
    --domains="*.DOMAIN_NAME,DOMAIN_NAME" \
    --dns-authorizations=AUTHORIZATION_NAME \
    --scope=all-regions

Replace the following:

• CERTIFICATE_NAME: a unique name of the certificate.
• DOMAIN_NAME: the target domain of the certificate. The asterisk dot prefix (*.) signifies a wildcard certificate. The domain name must be a fully qualified domain name, such as myorg.example.com.
• AUTHORIZATION_NAME: the name of the DNS authorization that you created for this certificate.

Terraform

Use a google_certificate_manager_certificate resource.

resource "google_certificate_manager_certificate" "root_cert" {
  name        = "${local.name}-rootcert-${random_id.tf_prefix.hex}"
  description = "The wildcard cert"
  managed {
    domains = [local.domain, "*.${local.domain}"]
    dns_authorizations = [
      google_certificate_manager_dns_authorization.default.id
    ]
  }
  labels = {
    "terraform" : true
  }
}

Verify that the certificate is active

Use the following command to verify that the certificate itself is active before deploying it to your load balancer. It can take up to several hours for the certificate state to change to ACTIVE.

gcloud certificate-manager certificates describe CERTIFICATE_NAME

Replace CERTIFICATE_NAME with the name of the target Google-managed certificate.

The command returns output similar to the following:

certificatePem: myPEM
createTime: '2021-10-20T12:19:53.370778666Z'
expireTime: '2022-05-07T05:03:49Z'
managed:
  authorizationAttemptInfo:
  -   domain: myorg.example.com
    state: AUTHORIZED
  dnsAuthorizations:
  -   projects/my-project/locations/global/dnsAuthorizations/myAuth
  domains:
  -   myorg.example.com
  state: ACTIVE
name: projects/myProject/locations/global/certificates/myCert
scope: myScope
sanDnsnames:
-   myorg.example.com
updateTime: '2021-10-20T12:19:55.083385630Z'

Deploy the certificate to a load balancer

This section walks you through the steps required to deploy the Google-managed certificate to a load balancer.

Before you proceed with the tasks in this section, make sure you have completed the tasks listed in the Create a Google-managed certificate with DNS authorization section.

Depending on the load balancer type, you can deploy certificates as follows:

• For the following load balancers, deploy the certificate by using a certificate map:
  • Global external Application Load Balancer
  • Global external proxy Network Load Balancer
  • Classic Application Load Balancer
• For the Cross-region internal Application Load Balancer, deploy the certificate by attaching it directly to the target proxy.

Deploy the certificate using a certificate map

This section describes the steps to deploy a certificate using a certificate map.

Create a certificate map

Create a certificate map that references the certificate map entry that is associated with your certificate:

gcloud

gcloud certificate-manager maps create CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME

Replace CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME with the name of the target certificate map.

Terraform

To create a certificate map, you can use a google_certificate_manager_certificate_map resource.

resource "google_certificate_manager_certificate_map" "certificate_map" {
  name        = "${local.name}-certmap-${random_id.tf_prefix.hex}"
  description = "${local.domain} certificate map"
  labels = {
    "terraform" : true
  }
}

Create a certificate map entry

Create a certificate map entry and associate it with your certificate as well as your certificate map:

gcloud

gcloud certificate-manager maps entries create CERTIFICATE_MAP_ENTRY_NAME \
   --map="CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME" \
   --certificates="CERTIFICATE_NAME" \
   --hostname="HOSTNAME"

Replace the following:

• CERTIFICATE_MAP_ENTRY_NAME: a unique name of the certificate map entry
• CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME: the name of the certificate map to which this certificate map entry attaches
• CERTIFICATE_NAME: the name of the certificate you want to associate with this certificate map entry
• HOSTNAME: the hostname that you want to associate with this certificate map entry

Terraform

To create a certificate map entry, you can use a google_certificate_manager_certificate_map_entry resource.

resource "google_certificate_manager_certificate_map_entry" "first_entry" {
  name        = "${local.name}-first-entry-${random_id.tf_prefix.hex}"
  description = "example certificate map entry"
  map         = google_certificate_manager_certificate_map.certificate_map.name
  labels = {
    "terraform" : true
  }
  certificates = [google_certificate_manager_certificate.root_cert.id]
  hostname     = local.domain
}

Verify that the certificate map entry is active

Use the following command to verify that the certificate map entry is active before attaching its corresponding certificate map to the target proxy:

gcloud certificate-manager maps entries describe CERTIFICATE_MAP_ENTRY_NAME \
    --map="CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME"

Replace the following:

• CERTIFICATE_MAP_ENTRY_NAME: the name of the target certificate map entry
• CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME: the name of the certificate map to which this certificate map entry attaches

The command returns output similar to the following:

createTime: '2021-09-06T10:01:56.229472109Z'
name: projects/my-project/locations/global/certificateMaps/myCertMap/certificateMapEntries/myCertMapEntry
state: ACTIVE
updateTime: '2021-09-06T10:01:58.277031787Z'

Attach the certificate map to the target proxy

Attach the configured certificate map to the target proxy:

gcloud

1. In the Google Cloud console, go to the Target proxies page.

   Go to Target proxies

2. Note the name of the target proxy.

3. Attach the certificate map to the target proxy:

  gcloud compute target-https-proxies update PROXY_NAME \
      --certificate-map="CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME" \
      --global
  

Replace the following:

• PROXY_NAME: the name of the target proxy.
• CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME: the name of the certificate map referencing your certificate map entry and the associated certificate.

Terraform

To attach the certificate map to the target proxy, you can use a google_compute_target_https_proxy resource.

If there are any existing TLS (SSL) certificates attached directly to the proxy, the proxy gives preference to the certificates referenced by the certificate map over the directly attached TLS (SSL) certificates.

Attach the certificate directly to the target proxy

To attach the certificate directly to the proxy, run the following command:

gcloud compute target-https-proxies update PROXY_NAME \
    --url-map=URL_MAP \
    --global \
    --certificate-manager-certificates=CERTIFICATE_NAME

Replace the following:

• PROXY_NAME: a unique name of the proxy.
• URL_MAP: the name of the URL map. You created the URL map when you created the load balancer.
• CERTIFICATE_NAME: the name of the certificate.

Clean up

To revert the changes you have made in this tutorial, complete the following steps:

1. Detach the certificate map from the proxy.

   Before you detach the certificate map, note the following:

   • If there were any TLS (SSL) certificates attached directly to the proxy, detaching the certificate map causes the proxy to resume using those directly attached TLS (SSL) certificates.
   • If there were no TLS (SSL) certificates attached directly to the proxy, the certificate map can't be detached from the proxy. You must first attach at least one TLS (SSL) certificate directly to the proxy before you can detach the certificate map.

   To detach the certificate map, run the following command:

   gcloud compute target-https-proxies update PROXY_NAME \
      --clear-certificate-map
   

   Replace PROXY_NAME with the name of the target proxy.

2. Delete the certificate map entry from the certificate map:

   gcloud certificate-manager maps entries delete CERTIFICATE_MAP_ENTRY_NAME \
      --map="CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME"
   

   Replace the following:

   • CERTIFICATE_MAP_ENTRY_NAME: the name of the target certificate map entry.
   • CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME: the name of the target certificate map.

3. Delete the certificate map:

   gcloud certificate-manager maps delete CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME
   

   Replace CERTIFICATE_MAP_NAME with the name of the target certificate map.

4. Delete the Google-managed certificate:

   gcloud certificate-manager certificates delete CERTIFICATE_NAME
   

   Replace CERTIFICATE_NAME with the name of the target certificate.

5. Delete the DNS authorization:

   gcloud certificate-manager dns-authorizations delete AUTHORIZATION_NAME
   

   Replace AUTHORIZATION_NAME with the name of the target DNS authorization.

What's next

• Migrate a certificate to Certificate Manager
• Manage certificates
• Manage certificate maps
• Manage certificate map entries
• Manage DNS authorizations