Moving or Copying SSL Certificate Between Apache Servers

An SSL certificate is more than just a public cryptographic key that has been signed by a Certificate Authority (CA); it also includes information that links the key to a particular domain name or business.

The type of web servers deployed determines whether to move or copy the SSL certificate from one server to another. Because different web servers are deployed on different servers, the procedures vary.

– What’s Needed

SSL certificates being static files simply require to copy the files between servers. The only needed caveat is to make sure all the files are copied from the primary server, whether taking the certificate from a third-party server or from your Hostvento server.

There are usually three:

• The certificate itself : It contains encrypted text and should be copied right from the beginning text ‘——–BEGIN CERTIFICATE——–‘ to the end.
• The private key : Encrypted text block, it is used to create the certificate and should be either copied alike the above from the top with –BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY–  to the bottom. Either copy or download it with .key, for the raw file.
• The chain file, which traces which entities have signed the certificate (can be optional)

Here the only thing is that no need to generate the CSR.

– Exporting A Certificate from Your Hostvento’s Server

Let’s see for Linux server with WHM.

a. Log into your server’s WHM.

b. Search ‘SSl/TLS’ in the provided search box at the left hand top side.

c. Click the ‘SSL Storage Manager’ and it lists the installed certificate/s.

d. Click the magnifying glass image next to the required certificate under ‘Certificates’ header.

e. Copy the whole certificate.

f. In the same manner copy the key that follows.

That’s it !