How To Install Hostname(Wildcard) SSL to cPanel & WHM services
Updated: Feb 12
Prerequisites:
You will need the following items to complete this tutorial
A VM Instance up and running with cPanel & WHM server.
Hostname Configuration.
A Wildcard SSL certificate.
Method - 1:
Note: Please remember that this guide is just for individuals using a trial cPanel and WHM license who prefer to install their SSL certificate to WHM services. If you have a valid license for a cPanel and WHM server, cPanel enterprise will offer you a free signed certificate based on your hostname. Modify or change your hostname to receive a free signed certificate, and the cPanel enterprise will install a signed certificate when the update script is done. To learn more about the signed certificate, Visit the link here.
How to obtain a cPanel and WHM license?.
Method - 1: Purchase a virtual private server with cPanel and WHM. Most hosting providers issue a cPanel and WHM license to their customers when purchasing a virtual private server.
Method - 2: Install cPanel and WHM server in the Cloud infrastructure and purchase a license from the cPanel Store.
Step - 1. Deploy a VM instance with cPanel and WHM.
To learn more about how to install cPanel and WHM servers. Visit the link below.
https://www.incapio.com/post/how-to-install-cpanel-whm-on-centos-7-google-cloud-gcp
In the case of GoDaddy, Visit the link below.
Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2ZMJjntvmk
Step - 2 Change or Update cPanel and WHM hostname.
If you already have a cPanel server running at any hosting provider. Change or modify the WHM hostname. In the case of GoDaddy. Visit the link below.
https://www.incapio.com/post/how-to-change-your-whm-server-hostname-godaddy-cpanel-vps
In the case of Google Cloud Platform(GCP), Visit the link here.
Step - 3. Generate a Wildcard SSL for your hostname.
To generate a wildcard SSL, Visit the link below.
https://www.incapio.com/post/how-to-use-cerifytheweb-to-install-lets-encrypt-ssl-in-cpanel
Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbGFY5PHXTE
Step - 4. Installing Wildcard(Hostname) SSL for cPanel/WHM services.
Log in to your cPanel and WHM server.
In the WHM search bar, type "Manage Service SSL."
In the WHM menu, Click on the "Manage Service SSL certificates" option under "Service Configuration."
In the Actions tab, click on the "Reset Certificate" option to request a new self-signed certificate for WHM services such as "Calendar, cPanel, WebDisk, Webmail, and WHM Services" based on your hostname. Also, Reset the Dovecot and Exim certificates too.
Once the certificates reset is done, cPanel will issue self-signed certificates to the WHM services based on your hostname. You can also verify the self-signed certificates by clicking the "Certificate Details" option under the reset certificate option.
To install the hostname(Wildcard) SSL to WHM services, scroll down until you notice the "Install a New Certificate" Section. Then, check the "Calendar, cPanel, WebDisk, Webmail, and WHM Services", "Dovecot Mail Server", and "Exim (SMTP) Server", and copy-paste the Wildcard SSL Certificate, Private Key, and Certificate Authority Bundle in the respective sections.
Finally, Click on the "Install" option to apply the hostname SSL to WHM services and restart cPanel and WHM Daemon.
Method - 2:
At first, change or modify your cPanel & WHM hostname. Please remember that the server hostname must be resolved to obtain a free signed certificate from the cPanel. After modifying the server's hostname, run the following command in the terminal.
/usr/local/cpanel/bin/checkallsslcerts
To learn more about the "checkallsslcerts" Script, Visit the link below.
https://docs.cpanel.net/whm/scripts/the-checkallsslcerts-script/
Conclusion:
Here are some recommended tips and tricks.
Apply Certificate to Other Services.
https://docs.cpanel.net/whm/service-configuration/manage-service-ssl-certificates/#actions