How to deploy a multi-domain SSL certificate? Detailed operation steps and precautions

for managers who operate multi-domain websites, deploying multi-domain SSL certificates is a key operation to achieve HTTPS encryption on the whole site, improve website security and search engine trust. However, many people will be confused because of the configuration of multiple domain names, and worry about the failure of encryption or the inability to access the website due to configuration errors. This article will comprehensively dismantle the deployment process of multi-domain SSL certificates from pre-preparation, step-by-step deployment to post-verification and maintenance, and provide practical operation guidelines for managers with different technical bases.

What preparations should be done before the deployment of multi-domain SSL certificates?

before the formal deployment of multi-domain SSL certificates, adequate preparations can effectively avoid problems such as domain name verification failure and certificate incompatibility in subsequent configurations, which is the premise to ensure the smooth deployment.

1 Confirm the suitability of multi-domain SSL certificates

first to confirm that the selected multi-domain SSL certificate supports all the target domain names of the current website, including the main domain name, subdomain name and different top-level domains, and check whether the brand and type of the certificate are suitable for the server environment, such as Apache, Nginx, IIS and other mainstream servers. There are differences in the certificate format requirements.

2 Complete ownership verification of all domain names

the domain name verification has been completed in the multi-domain SSL certificate application stage, but it is necessary to reconfirm that the verification status of all domain names is valid before deployment to avoid deployment failure due to verification expiration or domain name resolution change. You can check whether the DNS record or file verification status is normal through the certificate authority's back office or domain name resolution platform.

3, backup server original configuration file

need to backup the original HTTP configuration file and existing SSL certificate file on the server before deployment, once there is a problem during the deployment process, the original configuration can be quickly restored to avoid long-term inaccessibility of the website and ensure business continuity.

Second, multi-domain SSL certificate scene deployment operation steps

different server environments, there are differences in the deployment steps of multi-domain SSL certificates. The following are specific operation procedures for mainstream Nginx, Apache and IIS servers.

1, Nginx server deployment of multi-domain SSL certificate

first upload the PEM format file and private key file of the multi-domain SSL certificate to the specified directory of the Nginx server, such as/usr/local/nginx/conf/ssl/, then open the Nginx configuration file nginx.conf, add HTTPS listening configuration in the server block, specify port 443, configure the file path of the certificate and private key, and add the server_name configuration of all target domains, and finally restart the Nginx service to make the configuration take effect.

2 Apache Server Deploys Multi-Domain SSL Certificates

first upload the CRT file, private key file and CA root certificate file of the multi-domain SSL certificate to the conf/ssl directory of the Apache server, then open the htpd.conf and htpd-ssl.conf configuration files, open the SSL module, configure the 443 port listening in the VirtualHost block, specify the file path of the certificate, private key and CA certificate, add the ServerAlias configuration of all target domains, and finally restart the Apache service to complete the deployment.

3, IIS server deploys multi-domain SSL certificate

find the corresponding website in the IIS manager, click the binding option, add a new website binding, select the type as HTTPS, the port is set to 443, select the imported multi-domain SSL certificate in the SSL certificate drop-down menu, and check all the domain names that need to be bound. After confirmation, the binding is completed, and it can take effect without restarting the service.

How to verify and maintain multi-domain SSL certificates after deployment?

after the multi-domain SSL certificate deployment is completed, the operation cannot be directly ended, and the validity verification and regular maintenance are required to continuously ensure the HTTPS encryption effect of the multi-domain website.

1, verify the validity of multi-domain SSL certificate encryption

can access the HTTPS address of each domain name through the browser, check whether the lock icon in the address bar is displayed normally, click the icon to view the details of the certificate, confirm that the certificate contains all target domain names and the status is valid; You can also use online SSL detection tools, such as SSL Labs Server Test, to comprehensively detect the encryption strength, compatibility and configuration of the certificate.

2 Set HTTP to HTTPS forced jump

In order to avoid encryption failure caused by users accessing websites through the HTTP protocol, it is necessary to add forced jump rules in the server configuration to automatically redirect all HTTP requests to HTTPS addresses. Different servers have different configuration methods for jump rules, such as Nginx can be implemented through rewrite instructions, Apache can use mod_rewrite module to configure rules.

3. Regularly maintain the validity of multi-domain SSL certificates

multi-domain SSL certificate has a fixed valid period, it is necessary to set the certificate expiration reminder in advance, it is generally recommended to apply for renewal 30 days before expiration; at the same time, when adding or deleting a domain name, it is necessary to timely update the domain name list of multi-domain SSL certificate, re-complete the verification and deployment, to avoid the failure of some website encryption due to domain name changes.

To sum up, the deployment of multi-domain SSL certificates is a complete process from preparation to landing to maintenance. In the early stage, it is necessary to do a good job of adaptation confirmation and domain name verification. In the deployment stage, the corresponding operation steps should be selected according to the server environment. Later, it is necessary to regularly verify and maintain the validity of the certificate. Master these points, you can successfully complete the deployment of multi-domain SSL certificates, build stable HTTPS encryption protection for multi-domain websites, and improve the security and user trust of the website.