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Setting up a SSL Certificate Return to Help menu

Introduction to SSL Manager
Setting up a Generic SSL Certificate
Setting up a Private SSL Certificate


Introduction to SSL Manager

To access the SSL Manager, select "Security" from the main menu, and select "SSL Manager" from the Security menu.

The SSL Manager allows you to use our generic SSL certificate or set up your private SSL certificate on your domain without having to contact our support staff.

From the SSL Manager main page you have two choices:
  • Use generic SSL Certificate (free)
  • Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
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Setting up a Generic SSL Certificate

The SSL Manager allows you to set up our generic SSL certificate on your domain.

To set up the SSL certificate, select the "Use generic SSL Certificate (free) " radio button from the "SSL Manager" page and click the "Next" button . You will be prompted to confirm installation. Click the "Next" button to complete the operation. This will set up our generic SSL certificate on your domain. The result of operation will be displayed on the "SSL Manager" page. The result includes the name of the directories you have to use for secure content and a link to your secure site. The two directories are called "secure" and "secure-cgi-bin". Your secure content can be accessed at:

     https://www.securewebexchange.com/your domain/

Click the "Finish" button to exit SSL Manager.

Securewebexchange.com

The domain www.securewebexchange.com is a browser's access point to your secure content. The secure and secure-cgi-bin directories are used to store your secure content and are accessible via FTP and the WebsiteOS File Manager. As these directories exist outside of your public directory, they cannot be directly accessed by a web browser. As noted in the above paragraph, the securewebexchange.com domain is used by a browser to view your secure content.

Implementation examples

These examples use a fictitious domain called "bobscars.com" and assume that the SSL Manager has been run to set up the domain on securewebexchange.

To view a secure order form called "order.html", the order.html file is uploaded to the bobscars.com "secure" directory. Users of the form will access it via the securewebexchange.com domain at:

     https://www.securewebexchange.com/bobscars.com/order.html.

To use a secure CGI called "process.cgi" to process the order form, the process.cgi file is uploaded to the bobscars.com secure-cgi-bin directory. Within the "order.html" page, the CGI is called from the form tag:

     <form action="https://www.securewebexchange.com/bobscars.com/cgi-bin/process.cgi" method="post">

Please note that you do not have File Manager or FTP access to the securewebexchange.com domain. All secure content changes MUST be done via your domain's secure and secure-cgi-bin directories.

Repairing the secure directories

If you delete the secure directory, the secure site will not be accessible. You will need to re-install the SSL certificate in order to access your secure site again. If you delete your secure-cgi-bin directory, you can view your secure site but need to reinstall the SSL certificate in order to re-create the secure-cgi-bin directory and have it linked to the secure site. In the event that you delete one of these directories unintentionally, you can contact us in order to restore the files inside the directories.

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Setting up a Private SSL Certificate

The SSL Manager allows you to set up a Private SSL Certificate.

Generating the SSL key and certificate

The first step in setting up your private SSL certificate is to generate a key and Certificate Request (CSR) using the SSL Manager. Select the "Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)" radio button from the SSL Manager page and click the "Next" button. A form will be displayed that allows you to enter the required information for generating the key and CSR.

Fill out the form and click the "Next" button. The information you entered will be displayed. Click the "Back" button if you want to make any changes to this information. If the information you entered is correct, click the "Next" button. A CSR and key will be created and your CSR will be displayed. This is your self-signed certificate and you can use it as a temporary certificate while you are waiting for a real certificate. Click the "Next" button to set up the CSR on our servers. The result of operation and the name of your certificate file will be displayed. Click the "Finish" button to exit the SSL Manager.

Click the "Cancel" button anytime during the process to exit SSL Manager without saving the changes made during that step.

Purchasing the Certificate

To purchase the certificate, email it to a Certificate Authority along with your "Proof of Organizational Name" and "Proof of right to use Domain Name".

The "Proof of Organizational Name" in most cases is a copy of your company registration documents or certificate of incorporation. The "Proof of the right to use Domain Name" in most cases is a printout of your whois information. There are exceptions to both proofs. Contact your Certificate Authority for their exact specifications before sending any documents.

The Certificate Authority may ask you about the server type your certificate will be installed on. Our server type is "apache with mod_SSL"

To purchase the certificate at a later time, log into the "SSL Manager". Select the "View your Certificate Signing Request (CSR)" radio button and click the "Next" button. The CSR will be displayed. Copy the certificate and send it to the Certificate Authority along with documents described above.

The following is a list of some Certificate Authorities for your reference:
http://www.verisign.com
http://www.thawte.com
http://www.equifaxsecure.com
http://www.entrust.net
NTrust

Uploading your purchased certificate

The last step of creating a secure site is to upload the certificate you receive from your Certificate Authority.

After receiving your certificate from your Certificate Authority, you need to upload it to our servers in order for us to set up your secure site.

To upload your certificate, select the "Upload your certificate " radio button and click the "Next" button. A form will be displayed. Paste the body of certificate in the text area. Click the "Next" button to complete the operation. The result of operation will be displayed. Click the "Finish" button to exit SSL Manager. Your certificate will be set up the next business day.

Click "Cancel" to cancel the upload and exit the SSL Manager.

Checking your secure site

SSL Manager allows you to verify if your certificate has been set up.

To verify that your certificate has been set up, select the "Secure site status" radio button and click the "Next" button. The status of your secure site as well as a link to your secure website will be displayed.

Click the "Back" return to the SSL Manager main page.

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