Which command effectively initiates a connection to a remote server with SSL/TLS support using OpenSSL?

Which command effectively initiates a connection to a remote server with SSL/TLS support using OpenSSL?

• A. openssl initiate -host remote.example.com
• B. openssl connect -ssl remote.example.com
• C. openssl s_client -connect remote.example.com:443
• D. openssl secure -host remote.example.com

Answer: (C)

The command "openssl s_client -connect remote.example.com:443" is the correct choice for initiating a connection to a remote server with SSL/TLS support using OpenSSL because it specifically utilizes the s_client tool, which is designed for testing SSL/TLS connections to a server. The s_client command establishes a connection to the specified server and port, in this case, remote.example.com on port 443, which is the standard port for HTTPS traffic. This command allows users to see if SSL/TLS is working as expected, view the server's certificate, and troubleshoot any connection issues. In contrast, the other options do not represent valid OpenSSL commands for establishing such a connection. For instance, initiating commands like "openssl initiate" or "openssl secure" do not exist within the OpenSSL suite and therefore cannot be used to create a connection. The option "openssl connect -ssl remote.example.com" also does not correctly specify the necessary syntax or the appropriate tool for connecting to an SSL/TLS-enabled server, which is a critical element for securely testing connection settings.

The command "openssl s_client -connect remote.example.com:443" is the correct choice for initiating a connection to a remote server with SSL/TLS support using OpenSSL because it specifically utilizes the s_client tool, which is designed for testing SSL/TLS connections to a server. The s_client command establishes a connection to the specified server and port, in this case, remote.example.com on port 443, which is the standard port for HTTPS traffic. This command allows users to see if SSL/TLS is working as expected, view the server's certificate, and troubleshoot any connection issues.

In contrast, the other options do not represent valid OpenSSL commands for establishing such a connection. For instance, initiating commands like "openssl initiate" or "openssl secure" do not exist within the OpenSSL suite and therefore cannot be used to create a connection. The option "openssl connect -ssl remote.example.com" also does not correctly specify the necessary syntax or the appropriate tool for connecting to an SSL/TLS-enabled server, which is a critical element for securely testing connection settings.