Secure Sockets Layer

Handshake Protocol

The Handshake protocol has two phases:

1. “hello” messages are exchanged between server and client
   a The server receives the CLIENT-HELLO message and processes it responding with the
   SERVER-HELLO message.
   b They must determine whether or not a new master key is needed.
   c If no new master key is needed, they proceed to phase 2.
   d If a new master key is needed, the SERVER-HELLO message will contain enough
   information for the client to generate it.
   
2. Authentication Phase

a Used to authenticate the client
b The server will require something from the client and send a request.
c The client will respond either with the information or with an error message.
d When authentication is complete it sends its finished message.

After this handshake, the two sides are ready to communicate safely. One important issue to remember is that the server is just as interested in verifying the client as the client is in verifying the server.

How does this relate to digital certificates?

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Paul Palicki