How To Install SSL On Nginx Ubuntu
Installing Prerequisites
Before setting up SSL on your Nginx Ubuntu installation, there are certain prerequisites that must be met. First, you must have a valid SSL Certificate from a Certificate Authority. If you don’t have one already, it can be purchased online. Additionally, you should have the latest version of Nginx installed, and it should be running without any problems. Finally, it’s best to have ssh access to your server so that you can manage the configuration files directly.
Once the prerequisites are met, it’s time to begin setting up SSL on your Nginx Ubuntu installation. First, you’ll need to generate your server’s private key. Private keys are used to authenticate a server, and they are needed to set up an SSL connection.
Generating the Private Key
Start by logging into your server via SSH. Once connected, run the following command:
openssl genrsa -des3 -out server.key 2048
This will generate a 2048-bit RSA private key and save it in the file called “server.key”. It will also prompt you to enter a passphrase, which you should choose carefully. The private key must remain secure, so choose something that won’t be easily guessed.
Once the private key is generated, it’s time to generate the certificate signing request. This is used to obtain an SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority. To generate the CSR, run the following command:
openssl req -new -key server.key -out server.csr
This will generate a certificate signing request and save it in the file called “server.csr”. When prompted, you should enter the information required by the Certificate Authority. This typically includes the server’s domain name, the contact information for the domain owner, and the public key.
Obtaining the SSL Certificate
Once the certificate signing request is generated, it should be sent to a Certificate Authority. The Certificate Authority will then verify the information provided and issue an SSL certificate. This certificate must then be downloaded and saved to the server.
Once the certificate is downloaded, you should open it with a text editor. It should contain some encoded information along with the public key. Once the certificate is obtained, the next step is to generate the certificate chain.
Generating the Certificate Chain
The certificate chain is used to authenticate the server to the browser. To generate the certificate chain, run the following command:
cat server.crt bundle.crt > cert_chain.crt
This command will assemble the server’s certificate and the root certificate into a single file called “cert_chain.crt”. This will be used to authenticate the server to the browser.
Configuring the server.conf File
Now that the certificates are in place, it’s time to configure the server.conf file. This file is used to define which ports should be used for SSL and which type of encryption should be used. Since Nginx is set up to use port 443 by default, you can simply add the following lines to the end of the server.conf file:
ssl_certificate cert_chain.crt;
ssl_certificate_key server.key;
ssl_protocols TLSv1 TLSv1.1 TLSv1.2;
ssl_ciphers HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5;
These lines will enable SSL on port 443 and specify the type of encryption to be used. Once the server.conf file is modified, it’s time to reload the configuration. To do this, run the following command:
nginx -s reload
This command will reload the configuration without restarting the service. At this point, SSL should be enabled on port 443 and it should be ready to accept incoming TLS/SSL connections.
Test SSL Certificate
With the server.conf file modified and the configuration reloaded, it’s time to test the SSL setup. Start by running the following command:
openssl s_client -connect localhost:443
This should return a list of information about the SSL connection. Take a look at the “Certificate chain” section and make sure that the certificates are all valid and up to date. If everything looks correct, the SSL setup is working correctly.
FAQs
Q: What is an SSL Certificate?
A: An SSL Certificate is a digital document that is used to authenticate a server and encrypt data sent over the internet.
Q: What is an SSL Certificate Chain?
A: An SSL Certificate Chain is a sequence of certificates that is used to authenticate the server to the browser. It includes the server’s certificate and the root certificate.
Q: What is an SSL Protocol?
A: An SSL Protocol is a type of encryption that is used to secure data between a server and a browser. Currently, the TLSv1, TLSv1.1, and TLSv1.2 protocols are all supported by most browsers.
Conclusion
Installing SSL on an Nginx Ubuntu installation can be a complicated process. However, by following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to securely configure SSL on your server in no time. Just remember to keep your private key secure and be sure to obtain a valid SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority.
Thank you for reading this article. For more information on setting up SSL on Nginx Ubuntu, please read our other articles.
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