How to Install an SSL Certificate on Any Server

Installing an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate on your website is no longer a simple option. This is an essential part of securing your site and ensuring that data is encrypted and delivered over an HTTPS connection. However, it can be difficult to determine which type of SSL certificate to use, especially considering the number of varieties available.

If you are running multiple subdomains, it probably makes more sense to use a dedicated SSL certificate. This will allow you to secure all of your subdomains, rather than having to purchase and customize several.

Here we will explain to you How install an SSL certificate, what it is, when and why you might want to use one. Then, we'll show you how to install this type of certificate on your site in a few simple steps.

How to install an SSL certificate in 4 steps

If you decide that Wildcard SSL is your best option and you don't want to use the free Wildcard SSL, the next step is to purchase and install it on your WordPress site or another server you own. The procedure for installing an SSL certificate may vary slightly depending on your host and server type.

Here you can learn about: Fix ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR Error

• E.g.- Some hosting plans do not support wildcard SSL certificates or only offer them as an option.

Also, the steps in the installation process may be different depending on the control panel and the interface of your web server. Top of form

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Either way, the steps are basically the same. Let's see how to install an SSL certificate on any server with these four simple steps.

Step 1: Purchase your SSL certificate

The first step is to purchase your SSL certificate. As we mentioned, there are several SSL providers that offer certificates. The best solution will largely depend on your specific needs and budget.

When you purchase an SSL certificate, you will be asked to specify the type of server your site is hosted on.

Step 2: Generate the certificate signing request (CSR) code and private key

The next step to install an SSL certificate is to generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) code, which is required by the SSL provider to create and sign the certificate file. To generate a CSR code and private key, you can fill out the CSR form and online key generator at ssl.com:

We recommend that you complete the following fields:

• Common name (domain name)
• Email address
• Organisation
• City Town
• State / County / Region
• Country

When generating a wildcard SSL certificate, for the “Common name«, you must be sure to add an asterisk before the domain name, For example: («* .yourdomainname.com»):

When you are done, you need to click on the button Create at the bottom of the screen. A private key file and CSR will be automatically generated:

You can select Download private key y Copy CSR to save this information. Not only will you need it in the next step, but your SSL certificate cannot be used without it.

Then, go back to your SSL provider and upload your CSR. This will regenerate your SSL certificate file. (.cert).

Step 3: Upload your certificate and private key files to your server

The next step to installing an SSL certificate is to upload your CSR and private key files to your server. Let’s walk through the steps if you were a Kinsta user, for example:

• Step 1:: You must log in to MyKinsta and go to the following route: Sites > Your Site > Domains.
• Step 2:: Then, you need to click on the drop-down menu next to the domain for which you want to add a custom SSL certificate and click on Add custom SSL certificate.

• Step 3:: You will then see a confirmation window showing the domains that the custom SSL will cover. You need to click on the button Next to go to the next step.

• Step 4:: Then you can add your private key (.key) and your certificate (.cert).

NOTE: : Some clients using this platform will also need to add their intermediate certificate. Most SSL providers will email you a file .crt and a file .ca-bundle. You must first paste the contents of your .crt file into the “.cert file content«, then the contents of the file .ca-bundle below.

Please note that if you want to add your intermediate certificate, you can do so. Depending on the SSL provider you used, they may have emailed you a file .crt and a file .ca-bundleIf you don't have an intermediate certificate or don't know what it is, you can use a tool like What's My Chain Cert to generate it.

You can download it here

You can use a text editor like the Memo pad to open these files. You can then copy and paste the contents of your file .crt in the section Certificate, then the contents of the file .ca-bundle below. Once you are done, you need to click on the button Add certificate.

As we mentioned, the procedure for uploading your private key and certificate files will vary depending on your host. If you are not a Kinsta user and your host uses cPanel / WHM, you can add this information in SSL / TLS.

Step 4: Confirm that the installation of the Wildcard SSL certificate was successful

If you have carefully performed the steps mentioned above, you should now have a wildcard SSL certificate successfully installed on your web server. However, to confirm that everything went well, you can use About SSL's SSL Checker tool at this time. link. We recommend you follow these steps:

• Step 1:: On this page, simply enter the URL of your WordPress site or your preferred host.
• Step 2:: then you must click on the button Check.

NOTE: : Information about your SSL certificate will automatically appear on the screen. This will help you confirm whether yours was installed correctly. If everything looks good, you have successfully installed your SSL certificate.

. After installing the SSL certificate, we recommend that you perform a search and replace in your site's database to replace the HTTP URL with HTTPS URLs.

What are SSL certificates and how do they work?

An SSL is an important add-on that helps you have greater protection for your subdomains. These certificates normally work like any wildcard certificate.

E.g.:If your domain name is “yourwebsite.com”, your wildcard certificate will also protect your “subsite.yourwebsite.com” and “subsite2.yourwebsite.com”.

When you can install a wildcard SSL certificate

When you have a single-name SSL certificate, adding a new subdomain to your site and issuing an SSL certificate doesn't have to be a big deal. However, if you plan on adding a large number of subdomains, it could quickly become a lengthy and expensive process.

Where to get a wildcard SSL certificate

Wildcard SSL is available on certificates validated by Domain (DV) and Organization Validated (OV)The first allows you to secure your domain name and any number of subdomains, while the second allows you to validate your business as well as your domain name and subdomains.

• OV certificates require you to submit business documents and may take a few days to process and verify.
• DV certificates can be issued in minutes. It is important to note that Wildcard SSL is not available on certificates extended validation (EV).

There is a wide variety of suppliers Certification Authority (CA) that offer wildcard certificates. Here are some popular options:

• Comfortable– offers both DV Wildcard SSL and OV Wildcard SSL certificate options. Prices range from $89 per year to over $1,000 per year depending on the plan and subscription type. You can enter here
• GeoTrust– offers a True BusinessID wildcard certificate for $688 per year, as well as a QuickSSL® Premium wildcard certificate for $745 per year. You can enter here.
• Thawte: provides Wildcard SSL certificates starting at $149 per year. You can enter here.

Depending on your hosting provider and plan, you may also be able to purchase a wildcard certificate through them. For example, some web hosts work with a SSL Partner preferred and offer wildcard certificates as a Premium module.

Conclusion

Installing an SSL certificate is one of the most important steps to optimize and secure your website. However, deciding which type of SSL certificate to use can be confusing. As we discussed in this post, using a wildcard SSL certificate can help you save time and money by securing an unlimited number of subdomains on a single certificate. You can install an SSL certificate on your site in three easy steps:

You can also read about: Fix SSL Connection Error on Android Phones

1. If you'd prefer to use a custom SSL certificate instead of Kinsta's free option, for example, you can purchase a custom certificate from a certificate authority such as Comfortable o GeoTrust.
2. Generate a private RSA and csr key from SLL.com.
3. Add your wildcard certificate files to your server.
4. Confirm that the wildcard SSL certificate installation was successful by using the SSL Checker tool.

We hope we have helped you understand how to install an SSL certificate on any server.