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Domains: ssl certificate activation and installation for domain hosted on epycbyte hosting servers

Last updated on Aug 05, 2025

To set up an SSL certificate on your website using cPanel, follow these organized steps:

  1. Generate Certificate Signing Request (CSR):

    • Log into your server via SSH.
    • Use the command openssl req -new -sha256 -key /path/to/private.key -out CSR.csr to create the CSR file.
    • Ensure the private key is located in /etc/ssl/private/ or your home directory under .ssh.
  2. Upload CSR to Epycbyte:

    • In cPanel, navigate to the SSL/TLS section and click "Generate CSR."
    • Upload the generated CSR file from your local computer.
  3. Activate the Certificate:

    • After uploading, receive an activation email from Epycbyte with a link.
    • Click the link to activate the certificate and download it.
  4. Configure DNS Records (CNAME):

    • If using CNAME-based validation, create a CNAME record in cPanel's DNS Zone Editor.
    • Set the name to @ or your domain, TTL to 60, and point to your server’s IP.
    • Retrieve the necessary settings from the certificate details page post-activation.
  5. Upload Certificate Files:

    • Once activated, download the certificate files (cert.pem and priv.pem).
    • Upload these files to your server in /etc/letsencrypt/ or appropriate directory.
  6. Install Certificates via cPanel:

    • Use File Manager in cPanel to upload the certificates.
    • Restart your web server (Apache or Nginx) with sudo systemctl restart apache2 for Ubuntu.
  7. Set Up HTTPS Redirect:

    • Use .htaccess to redirect all traffic to HTTPS by adding:
      RewriteEngine On
      RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
      RewriteRule ^/ https://%1/$1 [R,L]
      
  8. Consider Dedicated IP:

    • Decide whether a dedicated IP is necessary for SEO purposes.
    • Contact Epycbyte’s billing team at billing@epycbyte.com to request and pay for the dedicated IP.
  9. Test and Verify:

    • Ensure your site can be accessed securely via HTTPS.
    • Check that all configurations are correctly applied and that there are no SSL errors.
    • Use online SSL checker tools to verify certificate installation.
  10. Troubleshooting:

    • If issues arise, refer to Epycbyte’s troubleshooter or contact support for assistance.