SSL Secure Server

This section covers certificate installation requirements, how to use the server's shared certificate, creating a self-signed certificate, and installing a purchased certificate. Any site that processes monetary transactions or takes in sensitive information (such as passwords) needs the protection of a SSL certificate.

Certificate Installation Requirements

In order to use the SSL feature your site must have it's own static (dedicated) IP address. If you don't have a dedicated IP address, you will get an error message when you access the SSL menu:

Using the Server's Shared Certificate

One of the simplest ways to have a secure site is to use the server's built-in self-generated certificate. To access the SSL menu, click on the "Advanced Tools" link from the main control panel menu, then click the "Install SSL Certificates" icon.

Make sure the radio button next the "User the server's certificate" is selected, and click the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen.

Understanding non-Trusted Certificates

Although non-Trusted certificates provide a high level of encryption, they are not always the best choice because they are self-generated instead of purchased from a trusted authority. Because of this, visitors to your site may receive a warning popup window when they access a secure page. Newer browser versions are much more wary of self-signed certificates. If you can put up with this inconvenience, then a self-generated secure certificate is adequate for your site. If you are a company selling goods or services, we highly recommend that you purchase a trusted certificate. A non-trusted certificate may be harmful to a web site's reputation.

Creating a Self-Signed Certificate

An alternative to the self-generated shared server certificate is a personalized self-signed certificate. First, access the SSL menu by clicking the "Advanced Tools" link from the main control panel menu, then click the "Install SSL Certificates" icon.

1. Click the radio buttons to select "Create your own self signed certificate."
2. Enter the information about yourself and your company.
3. Click the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen. You will be taken back to the SSL menu.

Installing a Purchased Certificate

A purchased certificate is the best form of security. Because the certificate is both secure and trusted, visitors will not receive a warning popup window when viewing a secure page.

Step 1: Generate a CSR

First, access the SSL menu by clicking on the "Advanced Tools" link from the main control panel menu, then click the "Install SSL Certificates" icon.

Make sure to click the radio button next to "Create A Certificate Request." Then, enter the information about your company. The "Common Name" refers to the address of your site that will go on the SSL certificate. Your site will be secure only at this address. In the above example, https://www.garys-host.com/anything would be secure, but not https://garys-host.com/anything.

When you are finished, click the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen. You will then see a page that looks like this:

Copy this text (including the "BEGIN/END CERTIFICATE REQUEST" sections) into a plain text editor such as Windows Notepad and save the file to your hard drive. You will need this CSR when you purchase a certificate.

Step 2: Purchase a Certificate

When purchasing a certificate, you will be asked about yourself or your company, your web site, and:

• The CSR

  Simply paste the CSR given to you by the control panel, including the "BEGIN/END CERTIFICATE REQUEST" sections. There will be a text box in the order form into which to paste the copied text. Please ensure the CSR is saved and pasted as plain text.

• Software that Generated the CSR

  Choose Apache-ModSSL, or "Other" if you don't see Apache-ModSSL in the list. Do not worry about making a mistake, as this information is collected for statistics purposes only.

• Your Common Name

  The "Common Name" refers to the address of your site that will go on the SSL certificate (see Step 1). Enter this address without the "http://" unless otherwise specified by the certificate seller.

Step 3: Install the Certificate

Access the SSL menu by clicking on the "Advanced Tools" link from the main control panel menu, then click the "Install SSL Certificates" icon.

Select the radio button next to "Paste a pre-generated certificate and key." As you can see, the key is already inserted in the text box for you. Paste the certificate immediately below it and click "Save."

Step 4: Install the CA Root Certificate

Return to the main SSL menu. At the very bottom is a link called "Click Here to paste a CA Root Certificate. Click the link and paste your CA Root Certificate in the textbox. Then, click the "Save" button.

Although the installation of a CA Root Certificate is not always required, you may find that your SSL certificate will not function properly without completion of this step.