Every server platform has its own steps to generate a certificate request and install an issued certificate. But the common steps include the following:
- Generate a certificate signing request (CSR)
- Order an SSL certificate from a CA
- Download the intermediate certificate from the CA
- Install the intermediate certificate on the server
There are multiple certificate authorities to choose from today, such as GeoTrust, DigiCert, Symantec, and Network Solutions. You can compare the prices as well as the types of certificates that they offer to find the best solution for you. We will review the different types of certificates later in the chapter.
Traditionally, you generate an unsigned key from your web server software or administration panel. This is usually a file with an encrypted string. You submit this file to the CA as part of the...
