How to Install Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate on cPanel?

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If you have been struggling with how to install the Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate on your website, then we will make that a whole lot easier for you regardless of your tech skills. Even if this is your first website, this article will help you get through the installation process effortlessly. 

 You could be a Pro or just an average Joe who is getting started with a project and wishes to handle his or her own technical stuff. Whatever it is, never let a lean budget stop you from protecting your customers or visitors especially when your website collects personally identifiable data or online payments.

 In such cases, we highly recommend that you pick at least a cheap wildcard SSL certificate from Comodo. Not sure of what that is and whether you need one? Well, let us get that out of the way before we discuss how to install one.

What is a Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate?

A Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate is one that allows you to activate the HTTPS protocol on multiple subdomains. This is essential for all websites offering paid products or services such as subscription, digital products, etc.… Also, it is recommended for websites that require the user to enter personally identifiable data and login credentials.

Let’s assume your website is www.YourWebSite.com then your subdomains would be login.YourWebSite.com or payment.YourWebSite.com or AnythingElse.YourWebSite.com. So, although the subdomain is a part of your website, it would be treated as an independent domain. Therefore, you have two options when it comes to securing your subdomains. First off, you can install an SSL for the main domain and one individual SSL for each of the subdomains. 

Now that would turn out to be expensive and difficult to manage. Therefore, a better option would be to opt for a Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate. Basically, a wildcard SSL lets you secure the main domain of your website and also a certain number of subdomains (usually, up to 50) but in the case of Comodo, you can protect unlimited subdomains with a single Wildcard SSL Certificate.

Installation Procedure of Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate Using Cpanel

Before you even attempt to install the Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate, you need to make sure that you have the admin rights. If you do not before you started with the installation procedure. Another thing you will need is the certificate signing request or the CSR Certificate.

What is CSR Certificate?

The Certificate Signing Request (CSR) certificate plays a pivotal role in the activation of an SSL Certificate. It contains all the business essential information such as the name, website, contact details, etc.… For security purposes, it always recommends to create it on the hosting server end. In fact, do not be surprised if this is a mandatory obligation that you required to comply with.

Although we are providing you with all the required details to generate your own CSR code, you may want to explore the possibility of assistance from your web host in this regard. Some service providers do offer such assistance to their customers. In that case, you may skip the below-mentioned steps and move straight to the last one, which speaks about uploading the CSR Certificate. when  CSR uploaded, you may move to the final step, which is the installation of the Comodo Wildcard SSL certificate.

How to get, download and Extract CSR Certificate,

  1. Start by logging into the cPanel account, which can be done through the link https://yourwebsite.com:2083
  2. Enter your login credentials and log into the cPanel.
  3. Navigate to the ‘Security’ section and then click on the SSL/TLS Manager.
  4. You will now see four options but click only on ‘Generate, View, Upload, or Delete SSL Certificate Signing Requests’.
  5. You need to enter the domain, and certain other details such as company name, city, state, country, passphrase, etc.… so enter those details.
  6. It recommends that you enter an email ID that ends with the domain name of the domain for which you are applying for a CSR. This is where the CSR Certificate emailed you.
  7. Click on generate. The private key generates through CSR.
  8. Log in to the email ID you provided so that you can access the CSR Certificate which would be sent as ‘DomainAppliedFor.crt’
  9. Download the ‘DomainAppliedFor.crt’ file and copy and paste that code into a notepad file for further use.

Install the Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate

Now that you are through with downloading and uploading the CRT certificate, it is time to install your Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate. Follow the below-mentioned steps to do that.

  • Return to the SSL/TLS option under ‘Security’
  • Click on install/manage SSL or HTTPS
  • Choose the appropriate domain for which you applied for an SSL
  • Now enter the contents of the CA Bundle file into the box provided
  • Click on the install certificate and you have done.

To install the Comodo wildcard SSL Certificate on individual subdomains, you need to first create the domain through the cPanel by clicking on ‘Subdomains’ under ‘Domain’. You need to enter a name for the subdomain, choose the domain for which you wish to create a subdomain, and finally configure the root directory, then you have done.

Next, on the cPanel navigate to Security and then to the ‘SSL/TLS Status’ option. Here you should be able to see when SSL covers the subdomain. If not, click on the ‘Run Auto SSL’ option and that will take care of it.

Conclusion

Once you have installed your Comodo Wildcard SSL Certificate, you can easily renew the certificate. SSL certificates do not last forever and need to be renewed periodically by paying a fee, if applicable. 

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