cPanel: Generating A Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
Note: This feature is currently available to all customers on our new, upgraded servers and will be available to all customers soon!
When the time comes to purchase your SSL certificate, your SSL provider will require a Certificate Signing Request or CSR. You can easily generate one of these and a matching private key (which is required to install your SSL certificate) in cPanel following these steps:
- Log into cPanel for the domain you wish to generate the CSR for and click on “SSL/TLS Manager” in the “Security” section of cPanel.
- Click on “Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests” under “Certificate Signing Requests (CSR)”
- On the next page, fill out the form with the required information and click “Generate” at the bottom of the page.
Important Note: SSL certificates are domain name specific. If your site will be accessed at “www.example.com” you must put “www.example.com” in the “Domains” box. If the secure URL will not use “www” such as “https://example.com”, you would place “example.com” in the “Domains” box.
- Once the system generates your CSR, you will be directed to the page containing your CSR and matching private key. You would then copy the entire text from the “Encoded CSR” box (Including the “Begin” and “End” lines) and provide this to your SSL provider when ordering your SSL certificate.
Note: You will also want to keep your “Encoded Private Key” on file as well since this will be needed to install your SSL certificate.
And that’s all there is to it! You’ve now generated your certificate signing request that can be used to purchase your SSL certificate.
