> # Configuring Certificate Revocation Checking Methods

> During security exchanges with a client (for example, an IKE peer or SSH user), the MDS switch performs the certificate verification of the peer certificate sent by the client and the verification process may involve certificate revocation status checking.

> You can use different methods for checking for revoked sender certificates. You can configure the switch to check the CRL downloaded from the CA (see the "Configuring a CRL" topic), you can use OSCP if it is supported in your network, or both. Downloading the CRL and checking locally does not generate traffic in your network. However, certificates can be revoked between downloads and your switch would not be aware of the revocation. OCSP provides the means to check the current CRL on the CA. However, OCSP can generate network traffic that can impact network efficiency. Using both local CRL checking and OCSP provides the most secure method for checking for revoked certificates.

> Note You must authenticate the CA before configuring certificate revocation checking.

> DCNM-SAN allows you to configure certificate revocation checking methods when you are creating a trust point CA. See "Creating a Trust Point CA Association" topic.

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