Let's Encrypt (Free SSLs for Plesk and cPanel)
- 21/10/2018 16:07
Let's Encrypt is a plugin installed on the latest Plesk servers which support SNI. Let's Encrypt offers Free SSL certificates, to find out more we have a blog article you may wish to read - https://hostinguk.net/blog/ssl-certificates-lets-encrypt/
For the SSL to be issued, the domain (or subdomain) needs to be pointing to the server with the Let's encrypt plugin. This is because it will put a validation file on the server which it will then try and access through a URL.
Plesk
To install the Let's encrypt SSL through your Plesk service:
1. Login to your Plesk server. This can either be done through your control panel or by accessing the servers URL which you were emailed when the service was configured.
2. Under the 'Websites & Domains' tab find your domain/Subdomain.
3. You should see a grid of icons below the domain, if not click the 'Show More' link.
4. In the list of icons, find the 'SSL/TLS Certificates icon.
5. Click on the 'Get it free' button.
6. Here you can choose to also install the SSL on the www. and webmail. version of the sites (both domains need to also point to our server).
7. Once you click the 'Get it free' button it will upload a file to your site and try to validate the domain. If it can, the SSL will be issued and installed on the server.
To enable the SSL on the site, click 'hosting Settings' for the domain > Tick the 'SSL Support' feature > Click the drop down to choose the Let's Encrypt SSL you want to show on the site.
If the Plesk version supports it, there is also an option under 'hosting Settings' to redirect http requests to https with a search engine friendly 301 redirect.
If you don't see this, then a manual rule needs to be put in your .htaccess
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !on
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI}
cPanel
To install the Let's Encrypt SSL through your cPanel service:
1. Login to your cPanel server. You should also be able to access it through YourDomain.co.uk/cpanel
2. Once logged in, scroll down to the 'Security' section of the site.
3. Under the Security section, click the 'Let's Encrypt SSL' icon.
4. This will list your domains under your cPanel plan. Click the '+ Issue' link next to the domain to install the SSL on the site.
5. Test the site by going to https://yourdomain
You can then redirect http to https by adding the following into your htaccess:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !on
RewriteRule (.*) https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI}
