A secure socket layer (SSL) is an encryption-based Internet security protocol. Purchasing an SSL certificate is one of the best ways to protect your website. Exact Hosting offers single domain coverage and multi-domain coverage SSLs.
- Types of SSL certificates
- Generate a certificate signing request (CSR)
- Configuring the certificate
- Domain control validation (DCV) process
- Install an SSL certificate in cPanel
- Additional resources
Types of SSL certificates
There are several different types of SSL certificates. One certificate can apply to a single website or several websites, depending on the type.
| Single-domain | A single-domain SSL certificate applies to only one domain. |
| Wildcard | Like a single-domain certificate, a wildcard SSL certificate applies to only one domain. However, it also includes that domain's subdomains. For example, a wildcard certificate could cover www.example.com, blog.example.com, and developers.example.com. |
| Multi-domain | Multi-domain SSL certificates can apply to multiple unrelated domains. |
Generate a certificate signing request (CSR)
The certificate signing request (CSR) is generated on your hosting platform. In this guide, we're going over the steps to generate a cPanel CSR.
- Log into your account.
- Select the Services icon.
- Click Active next to your hosting service.
- Choose Login to cPanel.
- Select SSL/TLS.
- Choose Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests.
- Fill in the required fields, this information will be encrypted into the CSR upon pressing Generate.
- Your CSR will be available to copy or save on the next page.
Note: The CSR below is an example, please do not attempt to use this CSR.-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- MIICyDCCAbACAQAwWTELMAkGA1UEBhMCVVMxEzARBgNVBAgMCldhc2hpbmd0b24x EDAOBgNVBAcMB3NlYXR0bGUxDDAKBgNVBAoMA1NreTEVMBMGA1UEAwwMc2t5dnRl c3QuY29tMIIBIjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAAOCAQ8AMIIBCgKCAQEAucFgoX5NwAeI dGVzdC5jb20wDQYJKoZIhvcNAQELBQADggEBAAZkXxvFugACFtwit4d9SCLiXIO8 mPMUI2xQ+jOohHk7qgTDHEBCAPtAodlXSGFc1KS1ltnIwdm+6xjItG6ascvFFR1w dGVzdC5jb20wDQYJKoZIhvcNAQELBQADggEBAAZkXxvFugACFtwit4d9SCLiXIO8 mPMUI2xQ+jOohHk7qgTDHEBCAPtAodlXSGFc1KS1ltnIwdm+6xjItG6ascvFFR1w mGlroBPnBEY+MG+uXGM+b8R6ZtYNmUdmgFLwAdl94xTwiO32RVRFXi3OqyXknH= -----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
Configuring the certificate
- Log into your account.
- Select the Services icon.
- Press Active on your SSL service.
- Select Configure now.
- Choose the webserver type that matches your web hosting platform and paste your CSR in the field.
Note: If you use cPanel as your web hosting platform, select cPanel.
- Press Click to continue to send this information to the SSL provider.
- Select an authoritative email of your choice to receive the Domain control validation (DCV) email.
Note: Please create any of the listed emails if you do not have one.
Domain control validation (DCV) process
Upon submitting the CSR to the SSL provider, they will email with the next steps to approve.
- The provider will send the DCV instructions to your selected email.
- Press Approve to inform the SSL provider the request made is legitimate.
- Once the provider confirms approval and validates, you will receive an email with completion.
- You will receive a zip file from the SSL provider containing the certificate bundle. Unpack the contents in the zip file.
Install an SSL certificate in cPanel
- Log into your account.
- Select the Services icon.
- Click Active next to your hosting service.
- Choose Login to cPanel.
- Select SSL/TLS.
- Press Manage SSL sites.
- Select your domain, copy and paste in the fields with the certificate information. Press Install certificate when completed.
Note: Open the Certificates file using a text editor like Notepad.
- Upon successful install, you will receive a prompt. Press Ok.
Additional resources
SSL status checker tool from SSL shopper.
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