# Potential problem re-using a SSL certificate on a newer gateway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition79\ **Created:** [November 1, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/potential-problem-re-using-a-ssl-certificate-on-a-newer-gateway/65946 "2022-11-01T18:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bkarabinchak.psi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bkarabinchak.psi/32/83567_2.png) [@bkarabinchak.psi](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bkarabinchak.psi)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/potential-problem-re-using-a-ssl-certificate-on-a-newer-gateway/65946/1 "2022-11-01T18:24:06Z")
Figure I should ask here before I potentially cause some unexpected downtime on a production gateway as I don't know anything about SSL. I have a 7.9 Production gateway. They want to upgrade it to 8.1. I have a new machine that I have 8.1 installed on and a backup of the 7.9 restored to. The 7.9 had SSL enabled and presumably then had some file it used for the SSL (of what type and what location I don't know yet. All I see is something under Gateway Network Diagnostics under Local Certificate Information, a row of data with a hostname:port number, a serial number and issuer:Self). Would it be bad to re-use that same file in the 8.1 gateway, would it cause an issue with the 7.9 or should I be asking for a new certificate from their IT team? I do not know what is proper here. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/potential-problem-re-using-a-ssl-certificate-on-a-newer-gateway/65946/2 "2022-11-01T18:32:17Z")
The file format used between 7.9 and 8.1 differs. I think the upgrade process may convert it, but I'm not sure you can just drop the 7.9 file into 8.1. Certificates identify a machine by hostname or IP address. It doesn't sound like these are the same gateways, so even if you could drop the file in it wouldn't be the right certificate. ---
**Author:** ![bkarabinchak.psi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bkarabinchak.psi/32/83567_2.png) [@bkarabinchak.psi](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bkarabinchak.psi)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/potential-problem-re-using-a-ssl-certificate-on-a-newer-gateway/65946/3 "2022-11-01T18:32:43Z")
That's all I needed to know. Appreciate it.