Creating a SSL

Note that Upon purchasing an SSL certificate, you will receive an email that will start the processes outlined here. Be sure to check and make sure you have received it first before you begin.

How to create an SSL

To start the process, you will need to click on the link in your SSL purchase email. This email goes to the registered email associated with your Hostwinds account upon confirmation of payment.

Choose your Web Server Type from the dropdown menu (The most common types are cPanel and Microsoft IIS 5.x ), and from there, you can start your CSR Request.

What Is A CSR?

A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is an encoded chunk of text generated during your SSL application. To complete your SSL, you must copy the Encoded CSR provided during the application process and send it to the Certificate Authority. Certificate authorities (CA's) use a CSR to generate your SSL.

Generating A CSR Request

To start this process, you will want to use the dropdown menu to enter your Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and follow the path: Home > Security > SSL/TLS

From the SSL/TLS page, you will need to pick the Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests link and complete the tasks below:

From the key dropdown, make sure to select the Generate 2,048 bit key option.

Enter your domain(s) in the text box. Always include your domain name with or without www. to make sure it is correct.

Fill in City, State, and Country text boxes and ensure that this matches your WHOIS information.

Enter your company name in the text box. Please take care to make sure that this must also match your WHOIS information.

Suppose you filled out the Job Title on your Configure SSL Certificate form on your Hostwinds form. In that case, you need to match that here in the Company Division textbox.

You will need to enter a domain owner email in the text box. You must enter an active email address that you are already using. Additionally, use this for confirmation of ownership.

Next, you are asked to enter a Passphrase. We use the CSR passphrase to confirm the identity of those you wish to communicate with. These passwords are stored unencrypted, so make sure the password you use unique and not for other applications of greater worth.

Enter a description for the SSL.

From this point, Hostwinds recommends reviewing the information to make 100% sure that it is accurate. Once you have verified that it is, click on the blue Generate button to complete the process.

A CSR generates for you and provides a massive link that you will need.

Complete The SSL Creation Process

Copy the CSR text you generated earlier. You will need to then move to the Configure SSL certificate Page and paste the CSR text into the Server Information Text Box.

Then you will need to fill in the same information you used to generate the CSR in the Administrative Contact Information section. Push the Click to Continue button and then review the information.

Note: You will need to provide the email address to send the certificate approval.

You will receive an email shortly that will require you to push the Click to Continue button in the email body. A window will open that allows you to approve the certificate

Once you finish this process, you'll need to wait until you receive the approver email. The approver email will provide you with a link that you need to click on and say whether you APPROVE or DO NOT APPROVE the certificate.

In some cases, you may need to provide the SSL after further review of your account manually.