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SSL Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our SSL FAQ. Here you can learn all about SSL/TLS and SSL certificates including how to order a certificate, and how to correctly install SSL certificates on your website. We'll also cover different SSL certificate errors, troubleshooting, and managing certificates on multiple servers. This information will be most useful for system administrators, developers, and other who need to understand SSL. If you have a question that isn't answered in our SSL FAQ below, please let us know. 

SSL Basics

What is SSL? How does SSL work? What type of SSL certificate do you need? Start by getting familiar with the basics of SSL.

  • What is SSL? - Learn about SSL server certificates, SSL encryption, and other SSL basics that you need to know to secure your web site.
  • Do I Need An SSL Certificate For My Website? - Find out whether your site needs an SSL certificate or not.
  • Choosing the Right Certificate Authority - Learn what to compare when choosing a CA
  • SSL For Newbs - Learn more of the basics of SSL in this easy-to-understand article.
  • Why SSL? - Find out why you need to use an SSL certificate on your site at all.
  • SSL Certificate Features - Learn about different types of SSL certificates and other SSL certificate features.
  • SSL Details - Learn more of the how the a web browser creates a secure connection using SSL.
  • PKI Overview - Learn about Public Key Infrastructures and how they help make the Internet more secure
  • Special Types of Certificates- Learn about some special types of SSL certificates that might meet your needs better including UC certificates, code-signing certificates and email certificates.
    • Code Signing - Learn about what is code signing and how you can use code signing certificates to digitally verify your software.
    • Email Certificates - Learn about email certificates (SMIME Certificates) and how you can use them to sign and encrypt your email.
    • Document Signing Certificates - Learn about document signing certificates that can sign Adobe PDFs, Microsoft Office, and other digital documents.
    • Root Signing - Root signing certificates allow you to become your own certificate authority and issue certificates that are compatible with all major browsers. Most organizations don't need them but they work great with Microsoft Certificate Services.

Ordering an SSL Certificate

These articles will get you up to speed on how to order an SSL certificate including generating the CSR, choosing a provider, and completing the validation.

  • Ordering a Certificate - Learn about how to order an SSL certificate including generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and preparing validation documents.
  • What is a CSR? - Learn about what a CSR is and how you can generate a Certificate Signing Request to order an SSL certificate.

Installing an SSL Certificate

Whether you have a common server platform like Microsoft IIS and Apache Web Server or an obscure one, we can help you install the SSL certificate (or at least point you in the right direction). Just click your server type from the list of SSL FAQ pages below or go to the main SSL Certificate Installation page to see other platforms.

  • SSL Certificate Installation- Learn how to do your SSL Install and find answers to common SSL certificate installation questions.
    • 4D Webstar 4.x - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on a Webstar 4.x Server.
    • Apache - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on an Apache Web Server.
    • BEA Weblogic - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on a BEA Weblogic Server.
    • Citrix Secure Gateway - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on a Citrix Secure Gateway.
    • Cisco Secure ACS - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on a Cisco Secure ACS (Access Control Server).
    • cPanel/WHM - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate in cPanel
    • Courier IMAP - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate in Courier IMAP.
    • Ensim Pro - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on an Ensim Pro Server.
    • H-Sphere - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on H-Sphere.
    • IBM HTTP Server - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on an IBM HTTP Server.
    • Lotus Domino - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on Lotus Domino.
    • Microsoft Exchange 2007 - This simple tutorial will get you on your feet using SSL certificates with Exchange 2007.
    • Microsoft IIS 5 and 6 - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate in Microsoft IIS 5 and 6 on a Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 server.
    • Microsoft IIS 7 - This simple tutorial will get you on your feet using SSL certificates with IIS 7.
    • NetScreen - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on a Juniper NetScreen Server.
    • F5 Big-IP - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on F5 Big-IP.
    • Plesk - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on Plesk.
    • Tomcat - Instructions for installing an SSL Certificate on a Tomat Server.

SSL Errors and Troubleshooting

Get rid of those pesky SSL Errors and make sure your SSL certificate is installed properly.

Managing SSL Certificates

When you have multiple servers and multiple certificates, it can be difficult to manage them. These SSL FAQ pages will help you move and copy your certificate to other servers and do other management tasks.

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