Issue: Cannot Connect to SAML-Integrated Tableau from Tableau Desktop — Resolved by Signing the Server Certificate with a Private CA

When I tried to connect to a SAML-integrated Tableau Server from Tableau Desktop, I got the following error and could not proceed.

Cannot connect to Tableau Server. Please check the server name and port and try again. Internet communication error: SSL peer certificate or SSH remote key was not OK .

Tableau Server "SSL peer certificate or SSH remote key was not OK" Error | Tableau Software

To cut to the chase: replacing the server certificate used for SAML with one signed by a private CA allowed Tableau Desktop to connect successfully.

Since I had never signed a server certificate with a private CA before, I referred to the following site. It explains the steps up to signing a server certificate very clearly.

Public Key Certificate — Steps to Create a Private CA (Self-Signed CA) and Build a Certificate Chain

Realizing there was a lot I did not understand about certificates, I read Eat SSL!. It is quite easy to follow and I think it is an excellent book, so I highly recommend it if you are interested.