Installing SSL on Apache, Nginx and Windows IIS Print

Use this guide if your website is not hosted on cPanel (for example a VPS or your own server). You will need three files:

• example.com.crt – your certificate
• ca-bundle.crt – intermediate certificates (CA bundle)
• example.com.key – the private key created with your CSR

Apache

1. Upload the files to a secure folder, e.g. /etc/ssl/example.com/.
2. Edit your site's <VirtualHost *:443> block:

   SSLEngine on
   SSLCertificateFile      /etc/ssl/example.com/example.com.crt
   SSLCertificateKeyFile   /etc/ssl/example.com/example.com.key
   SSLCertificateChainFile /etc/ssl/example.com/ca-bundle.crt

   (On Apache 2.4.8+ you can instead append the CA bundle to the certificate file.)
3. Test and restart: apachectl configtest && systemctl restart apache2 (or httpd).

Nginx

1. Combine the certificate and CA bundle into one file:

   cat example.com.crt ca-bundle.crt > example.com.chained.crt

2. In your server { listen 443 ssl; ... } block add:

   ssl_certificate     /etc/ssl/example.com/example.com.chained.crt;
   ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/example.com/example.com.key;

3. Test and reload: nginx -t && systemctl reload nginx.

Windows IIS

1. Open IIS Manager → server name → Server Certificates.
2. Click Complete Certificate Request, select your .crt file, enter a friendly name and choose the Web Hosting store. (Use this on the same server where the CSR was created.)
3. Install the intermediate certificate via certmgr.msc → Intermediate Certification Authorities if required.
4. Go to your site → Bindings → Add → type https, port 443, select the certificate and save.

After installation, verify with an online SSL checker. Need help? Open a ticket with your server type – we are happy to assist.