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Demo App QuickStart Guide (Building a Sample App – iOS): Generating an Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) Certificate

Generating an Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) Certificate

The Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) certificate is needed for the iOS devices to register with Apple to receive notifications.

To generate an Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) certificate, follow these steps:

The first step to generate an Apple Push Notification Service (APNS) certificate is to generate a certificate request (CSR) file. The certificate request (CSR) file is used to request a development SSL certificate.

  1. To generate a CSR file, launch the Keychain Access application from the LaunchPad.

  2. Select the Keychain Access > Certificate Assistant > Request a Certificate From a Certificate Authority ... to create a SSL certificate.

    The Certificate Assistant window appears.

  3. Under the Certificate Information section enter the following details:

    • User Email Address: Enter your email address.
    • Common Name: Enter the common name.
    • Request is: Select the option as Saved to disk.

  4. Click Continue to proceed. The Save As dialog box appears.

  5. Save As dialog box: Change the file name extension in the Save As field to .CSR and click Save.

  6. Click Continue to proceed. The Conclusion notification appears.

  7. Click Done to create the CSR request and save it on your computer.

  8. Log on to the developer.apple.com site with your Apple credentials. If you do not have an Apple developer’s account, register with Apple.

  9. Click Sign In to continue.

  10. The next step is to create an app ID for push notifications. On the Developer Account page, click Certificates, IDs and Profiles in the left pane to continue.

    The Certificates, Identifiers and Profiles page appears.

  11. Click App IDs under Identifiers in the left pane to add a new App ID. The iOS App IDs page appears with a list-view of existing App IDs.

  12. Click the plus sign next to the label iOS App IDs. The Register iOS App ID page appears.

  13. Register iOS App ID: Enter the details for the following fields:

    • App ID Description:
      • Name: Enter the application name.
    • App ID Suffix > Explicit App ID:

      • Bundle ID: Enter the bundle Id. Remember the bundle Id as it is used to configure the application in Iris.

  14. Ensure that Push Notifications is checked under the App Services section. Click Continue to proceed.

    The Confirm your App ID section appears.

  15. The Confirm your App ID screen displays the details of the App ID that will be created. Click Register to continue.

  16. The system displays the message that the App ID is confirmed. Click Done.

  17. The next few steps discuss the configuration of the app ID for push notifications. Select the newly created app ID.

  18. Click the application name (VMSDemoApplication in the example below) and click Edit to edit the information of the application ID chosen. (The VMSDemoApplication details to be continued)

  19. VMSDemoApplication: In App ID Suffix >App Services section, select the Push Notifications option to create the development and production certificates.

  20. Click Continue to proceed.

  21. VMSDemoApplication: To create a development certificate, click Create Certificate in the Development SSL Certificate section. Click Done.

  22. The screen below describes the steps to create the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) but as these steps are already complete, click Continue to move to the next step.

  23. The Generate your certificate window appears. The next step involves choosing the CSR file that was generated earlier. Click Choose File to upload the .CSR file.

  24. Click Continue after the CSR file is selected to complete the certificate creation.

  25. The Your certificate is ready section appears. Select com.voltmx.vmsapplicationdemo and click Download to download the certificate.

  26. Double click aps_production.cer in the Downloads folder to add it to the Keychain Access application.

  27. To view the certificate in the Keychain, launch the Keychain Assistant and search by the certificates category. The push certificate is displayed.

  28. Right-click the certificate and click Export Apple Production iOS Push Services:com.voltmx.vmsdemoapplication from the drop-down list to export the certificate.

  29. Enter the file name and the location where the file is to be saved and click Save.

  30. Enter the password and click OK to continue.

  31. Enter your admin password for your computer and click Allow. This ensures that the certificate can be exported to the folder mentioned.