To set up an SSL certificate on your website using cPanel, follow these organized steps:

1. Generate Certificate Signing Request (CSR):

   • Log into your server via SSH.
   • Use the command openssl req -new -sha256 -key /path/to/private.key -out CSR.csr to create the CSR file.
   • Ensure the private key is located in /etc/ssl/private/ or your home directory under .ssh.

2. Upload CSR to Esadax:

   • In cPanel, navigate to the SSL/TLS section and click "Generate CSR."
   • Upload the generated CSR file from your local computer.

3. Activate the Certificate:

   • After uploading, receive an activation email from Esadax with a link.
   • Click the link to activate the certificate and download it.

4. Configure DNS Records (CNAME):

   • If using CNAME-based validation, create a CNAME record in cPanel's DNS Zone Editor.
   • Set the name to @ or your domain, TTL to 60, and point to your server’s IP.
   • Retrieve the necessary settings from the certificate details page post-activation.

5. Upload Certificate Files:

   • Once activated, download the certificate files (cert.pem and priv.pem).
   • Upload these files to your server in /etc/letsencrypt/ or appropriate directory.

6. Install Certificates via cPanel:

   • Use File Manager in cPanel to upload the certificates.
   • Restart your web server (Apache or Nginx) with sudo systemctl restart apache2 for Ubuntu.

7. Set Up HTTPS Redirect:

   • Use .htaccess to redirect all traffic to HTTPS by adding:

     RewriteEngine On
     RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
     RewriteRule ^/ https://%1/$1 [R,L]
     

8. Consider Dedicated IP:

   • Decide whether a dedicated IP is necessary for SEO purposes.
   • Contact Esadax’s billing team at billing@esadax.com to request and pay for the dedicated IP.

9. Test and Verify:

   • Ensure your site can be accessed securely via HTTPS.
   • Check that all configurations are correctly applied and that there are no SSL errors.
   • Use online SSL checker tools to verify certificate installation.

10. Troubleshooting:

    • If issues arise, refer to Esadax’s troubleshooter or contact support for assistance.