FAQs

Overview 

By the end of this article, you will have a valid SSL certificate installed and active on a domain hosted on your Linux Virtual Private Server (VPS), served over HTTPS through the DirectAdmin control panel. The article covers, in order: confirming prerequisites, generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) in DirectAdmin (or, optionally, over Secure Shell (SSH)), purchasing the certificate from your Certificate Authority (CA), installing the certificate and private key, adding the CA root certificate, and verifying the installation. DirectAdmin is the web-based hosting control panel you use to manage the domain and its certificates. 

Prerequisites 

Before you begin, ensure you have: 

Steps 

Step 1 — Log in to the DirectAdmin control panel 

Log in to DirectAdmin, switch to the User level, and select the domain you want to secure. Under Advanced Features, click SSL Certificates. 

Step 2 — Enable SSL for the domain 

If SSL is disabled for the selected domain, DirectAdmin displays a prompt to enable it. Click the “here” link to enable SSL support, then continue. 

Step 3 — Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) 

Select “Create A Certificate Request” and complete the CSR form with the required details: 

Click Save to generate the CSR and private key. Copy and store both the CSR and the private key on your local computer for safekeeping. 

Step 4 — (Optional) Generate the CSR and private key over Secure Shell (SSH) 

If you prefer the command line, you can generate the CSR and private key manually over Secure Shell (SSH). Log in as root and run: 

You will be prompted for domain-related details during CSR creation. 

Step 5 — Purchase and obtain the SSL certificate 

Once the CSR is generated, purchase an SSL certificate from your Certificate Authority (CA). After the certificate is issued, return to DirectAdmin to install it. 

Step 6 — Install the SSL certificate and private key 

In the SSL Certificates menu, select “Paste a pre-generated certificate and key.” Paste the private key first, then the SSL certificate from your CA, into the text box in that order, and click Save. 

Step 7 — Install the CA root certificate 

Most Certificate Authorities also provide a trusted root certificate or CA bundle. In DirectAdmin: 

How to verify success 

The installation is successful when your site loads over HTTPS with a valid certificate. Navigate to your website using https://, and confirm the padlock icon appears in the browser’s address bar. Optionally, use an external SSL checker such as SSL Labs or WhyNoPadlock to confirm the certificate chain is complete. 

Related questions