Re: SSL

Jeff Nisewanger (jdn@shimmer.eng.sun.com)
Fri, 22 Jan 1999 09:33:09 -0800 (PST)

> Can you tell me if a Java application which is communicating to a
> web server can use SSL ? From what I have
> read, the SSL connection is is established between the Browser and
> the Web Server. If it is possible for an application
> to have the same secure connection, could you tell where to I can
> get some documentation. Your help is greatly appreciated.

SSL is usually supported in browsers by making an "https"
URL protocol handler available via the java.net.URL class. The
JDK/JRE do not have an https handler by default. In order to use
https URLs or create socket-level SSL connections in a standalone
application you will have to get access to a Java SSL package. There
are several available now on the market including ones from Phaos and
RSA Data Security. Sun provides a Java SSL implementation as part of
HotJava, Java Web Server, and JavaOS but there is currently no
standalone reference implementation of this available for download.

Jeff