Configure WinRM for HTTPS

Configure WinRM for HTTPS manually

Configuring for HTTPS involves following steps.

- Check whether WinRM service is running
- Create HTTPS listener
- Add firewall exception
- Validate HTTPS listener

Check whether WinRM service is running

Get-Service WiRM

PS C:\Users\wintel> Get-Service WinRM

Status  Name  DisplayName
------  ----  -----------
Running WinRM Windows Remote Management (WS-Manag...

If the WinRM service is not running, you might need to configure WinRM using winrm quickconfig. When you configure winrm first time, it is configured to use 5985 by default.

check already registered listeners by running following command

PS C:\Users\Administrator> WinRM e winrm/config/listener
Listener
Address = *
Transport = HTTP
Port = 5985
Hostname
Enabled = true
URLPrefix = wsman
CertificateThumbprint
ListeningOn = 127.0.0.1, 172.20.20.1, ::1, fe80::5efe:172.20.20.1%15, fe80::d071:b058:c541:a212%12

Create HTTPS listener

To create a HTTPS listener, you need to have a certificate.

Generate SSL Certificate with one of these options

- CA Authority(e.g:Versign)
- Active Directory Certificate Services
- Self Signed(Not to be used in Production)
- Run the following command to create https listener.

winrm create winrm/config/Listener?Address=*+Transport=HTTPS @{Hostname="<YOUR_DNS_NAME>"; CertificateThumbprint="<COPIED_CERTIFICATE_THUMBPRINT>"}

C:\>winrm create winrm/config/Listener?Address=*+Transport=HTTPS @{Hostname="vc01.winadmin.org";CertificateThumbprint="9a20b7dab60933e3ce2ba6fddc02025dcdb83558"}

ResourceCreated
Address = http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2004/08/addressing/role/anonymous
ReferenceParameters
ResourceURI = http://schemas.microsoft.com/wbem/wsman/1/config/listener
SelectorSet
Selector: Address = *, Transport = HTTPS

Add firewall exception

You can use command and GUI tool to configure firewall exception.

Via command

# Add a new firewall rule

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Windows Remote Management (HTTPS-In)" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=5986

Using Windows Firewall with Advanced Security GUI tool.

Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security and click New Rule.

Select Port

Specific local ports – Enter 5986

Select Allow the connection

Select the options whatever is required

And give a name and click Finish

Now check the WinRM Listener. The output should be as follows.

C:\>WinRM e winrm/config/listener

Listener
  Address = *
  Transport = HTTP
  Port = 5985
  Hostname
  Enabled = true
  URLPrefix = wsman
  CertificateThumbprint
  ListeningOn = 127.0.0.1, 172.20.20.2, 192.168.20.2, ::1, fe80::5efe:172.20.20.2%17, fe80::5efe:192.168.20.2%16, fe80::1c21:cbdc:66d9:967%12, fe80::4d34:b19b:402c:ae3a%13
Listener
  Address = *
  Transport = HTTPS
  Port = 5986
  Hostname = vc01.winadmin.org
  Enabled = true
  URLPrefix = wsman
  CertificateThumbprint = 9a20b7dab60933e3ce2ba6fddc02025dcdb83558
  ListeningOn = 127.0.0.1, 172.20.20.2, 192.168.20.2, ::1, fe80::5efe:172.20.20.2%17, fe80::5efe:192.168.20.2%16, fe80::1c21:cbdc:66d9:967%12, fe80::4d34:b19b:402c:ae3a%13

Verify you can connect to the machine via HTTPS

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Enter-PSSession -Cn vc01.winadmin.org -UseSSL
[vc01.winadmin.org]: PS C:\Users\wintel\Documents>

If you give only host name, it will give errors and will not connect.

PS C:\Users\Administrator> Enter-PSSession -Cn vc01 -UseSSL

Enter-PSSession : Connecting to remote server vc01 failed with the following error message : The server certificate onthe destination computer (vc01:5986) has the following errors:
The SSL certificate contains a common name (CN) that does not match the hostname. For more information, see theabout_Remote_Troubleshooting Help topic.
At line:1 char:1
  + Enter-PSSession -Cn vc01 -UseSSL
  + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  + CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (vc01:String) [Enter-PSSession], PSRemotingTransportException
  + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CreateRemoteRunspaceFailed

Configure WinRM for HTTPS