The underlying connection was closed: Could not establish trust relationship for the SSL/TLS secure channel

Error Message

When creating a Web application in ArcGIS Server Manager > Add Layer > Add Server > Access secured services, after providing the user name and password from the SQL Server Security database, the following error message displays:

"Error: The underlying connection was closed: Could not establish trust relationship for the SSL/TLS secure channel"

Note:
This article applies to retired ArcGIS versions 9.x and 10.0. Later versions of ArcGIS may contain different functionality, as well as different names and locations for menus, commands and geoprocessing tools.

Cause

Typically, to use security in ArcGIS Server Manager, SSL is required. If this error displays in ArcGIS Server Manager while trying to add secured Map Services as layers, it indicates that SSL is not set up to trust the certificate.

Solution or Workaround

1. In Windows, select Start > Run. In the Run dialog box, type mmc.
2. In the MMC console select File > Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. Click Add.
4. Select Certificates, and click Add.
5. In the Certificates snap-in dialog box, select Computer account. Click Next.
6. By default 'Local computer:' is selected. Click 'Finish'.
7. Click Close in the Add Standalone snap-ins dialog box. Click OK.
8. Open a browser and type https://<Servername>.
9. The following message may display:
   "There is a problem with this website's security certificate." Select the Continue to this website (not recommended) option. Click the View certificate details. Copy the details to a file. Save the file onto the desktop, and accept defaults.

Note:
The file can be named something like, yoursevername.cer.

10. Close the certificate dialog box.
11. Go back to the MMC console. In the Console Root dialog box, double-click to expand Certificates (Local Computer).
12. Right-click Trusted Root Certification Authorities, and select All Tasks > Import.
13. In the Certificate Import Wizard' dialog box, click Next.
14. Browse to select the certificate file saved on the desktop.
15. Accept the defaults, and click Next.
16. Click Finish. A message indicating success displays.
17. Open a browser, and type: https://<Servername>.
18. The default Web page should launch without error.
19. The Access secured services is now accessible in the Add Server dialog box in ArcGIS Server Manager.