Let's Encrypt is a free, automated, and open Certificate Authority (CA) that provides digital certificates to enable secure HTTPS (SSL/TLS) on the web. Its easy installation and automatic certificate renewal make Let's Encrypt a popular choice for securing web servers. In this article, we will discuss how to install a Let's Encrypt certificate on a server managed through ISPconfig 3, a popular open-source hosting control panel.
Preparation
Before you begin, ensure that you have ISPConfig 3 installed and properly configured. ISPConfig allows for the management of multiple servers from a single interface and supports a wide range of services, including web, email, and database servers.
Step 1: Accessing the ISPConfig Panel
Log in to the ISPConfig 3 administrative panel using your credentials. It is usually available on port 8080, for example, https://your-server:8080.
Step 2: Selecting the Web Domain
In the left menu, navigate to the "Sites" section and select the web domain for which you want to install the Let's Encrypt certificate. Click on the domain to open its settings.
Step 3: Activating Let's Encrypt
In the domain settings form, locate the "SSL" section. Check the "SSL" box to enable SSL on your domain. Then, check the "Let's Encrypt" box to use certificates from Let's Encrypt. ISPConfig 3 automatically generates and renews Let's Encrypt certificates for your domain.
Step 4: SSL Configuration
If needed, you can configure additional parameters in the SSL section, such as SSL ciphers or paths to SSL certificates and keys. For most users, the default settings are sufficient.
Step 5: Saving and Restarting Services
After activating Let's Encrypt and configuring SSL, click "Save" at the bottom of the page. ISPConfig requires changes to take effect by restarting the web server. This can typically be done directly from the ISPConfig panel in the "Services" section.
Your website should now be secured using a Let's Encrypt certificate. It is important to note that Let's Encrypt certificates have a short validity period, but ISPConfig takes care of their automatic renewal, so you don't have to worry about it. With Let's Encrypt and ISPConfig 3, you can easily secure your website and improve the trust of your users.
