How to Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate for a Website

How to Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate for a Website

Introduction

An SSL certificate encrypts the data that goes from a user's computer to the target website and back. Every time a user enters information into your site, the SSL makes sure that it can securely travel for their browser to your web server.
This guide lists the steps on how to purchase and install an SSL for a website as follows:
  1. Place an SSL order
  2. Generate a CSR(Certificate Signing Request)
  3. Configure the certificate in the Billing system
  4. Approve the Certificate Authority for validation
  5. Download the issued SSL certificate file
  6. Complete the certificate request (Windows-based Server Only)
  7. Apply the SSL to website

1 Place an SSL order

Database Mart provides four kinds of certificates. You can choose one based on the level of the security needs of your website.
About how to place an SSL order,  please refer to How to Place an SSL Order.

2 Generate a CSR

Generating a certificate signing request (CSR) is the first step towards getting your own SSL Certificate. Generated on the same server you plan to install the certificate on, the CSR contains information (e.g. common name, organization, country) the Certificate Authority (CA) will use to create your certificate.
About how to generate a CSR on a Windows-based server, please refer to How to Generate a CSR on a Windows-based Server.
About how to generate a CSR on a Linux-based server, please refer to How to Generate a CSR on a Linux-based Server.

3 Configure the certificate in the Billing system

After you pay for the SSL order, we will send a notification email containing a guide on how to configure the SSL certificate. Please click the link in the email. You can also log into our Billing system to configure the certificate.
Here is a sample about configuration email:
 
About how to configure the certificate, please refer to How to Configure a Certificate in the Billing System.

4 Approve the Certificate Authority for validation

The certificate authorities (CA) need to ensure that your business is legitimate, and hence, they validate your business authenticity before  issuing an SSL certificate for your website. The required information for the validation depends on the type of the SSL certificate selected.
There are 3 options to approve Certificate Authority while you configure it in the Billing system:
  • HTTP
  • DNS TXT Record
  • Email
About how to approve the certificate request, please refer to How to Approve the Certificate Authority for Validation.

5 Download the issued SSL certificate file

After approving certificate request, the certificate will be issued shortly. There are two options to download the issued SSL file:
  • Download the SSL file provided in technical contact email
  • Downloading the SSL file from the Billing system.
About how to download the SSL certificate, please refer to How to Download an Issued SSL Certificate File.

6 Complete the certificate request (Windows-based Server Only)

Please skip this step if you generate a CSR on a Linux-based server.
If you generate a CSR on a Windows-based server, please complete the certificate request by referring to How to Complete a Certificate Request.
Note: Please complete the certificate request on the same server you generated CSR on step 2 Generate CSR.

7 Apply the SSL to website

7.1 Apply the SSL on Windows IIS

Apply the SSL on Windows IIS requires a .pfx SSL file and its import password, both of which will be given upon finishing the Step 6. 
About how to apply the SSL on Windows IIS, please refer to How to Apply an SSL on Windows IIS.

7.2 Apply the  SSL on Apache or Nginx

Apply the SSL on Apache or Nginx requires a .crt file and a .key file. The .crt file can be downloaded via the step 5 Download SSL certificate. The .key file will be generated when you generate the CSR.
 
If you have a .pfx file, please convert the file to a .crt file and a .key file. About how to get the .crt and .key file, please refer to https://portal.databasemart.com/kb/a466/how-to-get-crt-key-and-private-key-from-_pfx-or-_pem.aspx.
 
When get the .crt file and .key file, you are ready to install the certificate.
For how to apply an SSL on Apache, please refer to How to Apply an SSL on Apache.
For how to apply an SSL on Nginx, please refer to How to Apply an SSL on Nginx.

7.3 Related Links

For guidance on applying certificates to other web services, please refer to the links below:

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