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SSL

What is SSL? #

SSL (Secure Socket Layer), is a server-side service that encrypts data that is input through a web page. It is commonly used in conjunction with online forms and shopping carts to secure the transmission of sensitive data, such as credit card information.
How do you use SSL with a domain? #

By default, SSL is disabled, but it is available upon request at no extra charge. If you want us to enable SSL for your site, just let us know by submitting a support ticket through our Help Desk.

NOTE: If SSL is enabled for your site, you will need to access your web stat reports using the following url: https://yourdomain.com/webstat/ (https:// instead of http://).

In order to use SSL (once it is enabled), just upload the files or directories that you want to encrypt via SSL to your httpsdocs directory (instead of your httpdocs directory). In order to call out your SSL files or directories, you’ll need to make sure that the URL you use starts with https:// instead of http://.

You can also password protect a SSL directory.

NOTE: If you do not use your own SSL domain-specific certificate, then SSL requests will reference the server’s default SSL certificate and visitors will receive a warning that the certificate is not “authentic” since it referenced our server name, not your domain name. Other than that, the actual encryption and functionality is the same regardless of what certificate is used.

For more information, please see Plesk documentation.
How do you use a SSL certificate that is specific to a domain, instead of the server’s default certificate? #
1. Request a unique ip address for your domain
  
  In order to use your own certificate, you will first need to have a dedicated ip address assigned to your domain (by default, all of our domains are hosted using shared ip addressing). Please submit a request through our Help Desk to request a dedicated ip address so you can use your own domain-specific SSL certificate. Laughing Squid charges $2.00/month to provide a dedicated ip address for your domain for use with a SSL certificate
  
  NOTE: Dedicated ip addresses can only be assigned for the use of SSL certificates. We do not assign dedicated ip addresses for any other reason, including SEO or content filtering.
2. Choose a SSL certificate provider
  
  The next step is to choose a SSL certificate provider and follow the instructions on their website concerning the purchase of an SSL certificate. During the setup process they will ask you for a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), see step C.
3. Generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
  
  You can generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) using your control panel (You will need to have an ip address assigned to your site first before you can complete this step. See step A):
  1. Log in to your control panel.
  2. Select the domain name.
  3. Select “Certificates”.
  4. Select “Add New Certificates” and fill in all the required fields.
    
    The “Certificate Name” can be named whatever you want, but it is very important that in the “Domain name” field you enter your actual domain name.
    
    Under “Bits” select the 1024 option from the drop-down list.
  5. Select “Request”.
  6. On the main Certificates page select the certificate you haved just created under the “Certificates” section. Then scroll down to “CSR” and copy the CSR (Certificate Signing Request).
  7. Return to the SSL certificate provider that you selected in step B and enter the CSR that you have just generated into the appropriate form. If they ask you for the type of web server we are using, choose Apache-ModSSL.
  8. Once the SSL certificate provider issues your certificate, log back on to your control panel, select the domain again and then the certificate.
  9. Paste the new CA Certificate text into the “Upload certificate as text” box.
  10. Click on “Send Text”.
  11. Once you have completed all of these steps, please enter a support ticket through our Help Desk to let us know that you are ready to make the new certificate the default certificate for your domain and we will make the necessary changes on the server side. Once that is complete, your new certificate will be referenced in all future SSL requests from your domain.
    
    NOTE: If you are renewing an existing certificate, just repeat all of the steps in section C. and create a new certificate profile. When you are finished, please enter a support ticket through our Help Desk so we can then make the new replacement certificate the default certificate for the domain.
For more information, please see Plesk documentation.
Where can you purchase an SSL certificate? #
- GeoTrust
- Thawte