Installing an SSL certificate with Plesk Server Administrator

Part one: Download and save your certificates

1. Open the email we sent you, that contains the certificate for your domain.

2. Copy the certificate, including the -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and -----END CERTIFICATE----- strings.

3. Paste the certificate into a blank document in a text editor. Use an editor that will not add characters, such as TextPad.

4. Save the document. We recommend that you name it YourDomainName.crt.

   We recommend that you also back up your certificate on another computer or storage device.

5. Confirm which certificate you purchased, and determine which chain file to download.

   To confirm which certificate you purchased, review your order confirmation.

   • If you purchased SBS Instant, download chain A below.

   • If you purchased SBS Secure or Secure Plus, download chain B below.

   A -- SBS Instant

   • Instant Validation Certificate Chain
   
   

   -OR-

   B -- SBS Secure and Secure Plus

   • Full Validation Certificate Chain

6. Download the certificate chain. To download, right-click each certificate file name and select Save Target As.

   Save the certificate chain to the same directory where you saved the certificate for your domain name.

Part two: Upload your SSL certificate

1. In a text editor, open the certificate for your domain name and your private key. The path to your private key should be in your httpd.conf file, or the private key should be in your CSR.
2. In Plesk Server Administrator, select the domain for which you are installing the SSL certificate.
3. Access the domain's SSL section by clicking certificate.

4. Paste the Private Key with the Certificate text into the Enter Certificate Text text box, with one line break between them:

   -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
   [[ENCODED BLOCK OF TEXT]]
   -----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----
   -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
   [[ENCODED BLOCK OF TEXT]]
   -----END CERTIFICATE-----

.

5. Click Send Text.

   

   If successful a message is returned Certificate Successfully Installed.

   If there are any errors the old certificate will replace the new certificate that you have just sent to the server and you will be required to enter it again.

6. Click Up Level to return to the Domain Administration page.

Part three: Upload the certificate chain

The certificate chain connects the certificate for your domain name to its originating Certificate Authority and allows your visitors' browsers to identify your certificate as authentic.

1. In Plesk Server Administrator, select the domain for which you are installing the SSL certificate.
2. Click certificate.

3. Confirm that the Use rootchain certificate for this domain icon displays [X]. Use the ON/OFF button to toggle the setting, if needed.

   

4. Click Browse and locate the certificate chain file you saved earlier.
5. Click Send File. This will upload your certificate chain to the Web server.
6. Set the Use rootchain certificate for this domain icon to [ON].
7. Click Up Level to return to the Domain Administration page.

If you are applying your certificate to the Plesk control panel (in order to secure your login) you will need to login to Plesk Administrator and select Server.

Select Certificate and complete the above instructions as per applying your SSL certificate to a domain.