Comodo SSL Certificates

A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is an encoded file that contains your application information such as your organization name, domain name, locality, and country. It also includes the public key that will be incorporated into your SSL certificate. The CSR is essential for obtaining an SSL certificate as it verifies your server's identity.

How to Generate a CSR from Plesk

Step-by-Step Instructions for Plesk:

Log in to Plesk: Access your Plesk control panel by entering your credentials.

Navigate to SSL/TLS Certificates:

• Go to the "Websites & Domains" section.
• Click on the domain name you want to secure.
• Find and select the "SSL/TLS Certificates" option.

Add New Certificate:

• Click on the "Add SSL/TLS Certificate" button.
• Enter a name for your certificate to help you identify it later.

Enter CSR Details:

• Fill in the required fields:
  • Domain Name: The fully qualified domain name (e.g., www.example.com).
  • Organization Name: Your company's legally registered name.
  • Organization Unit: The department within your organization (e.g., IT Department).
  • City or Locality: The city where your organization is located.
  • State or Province: The state or province where your organization is located.
  • Country: The two-letter country code (e.g., US for the United States).

Generate CSR:

• Click on the "Request" button to generate the CSR.
• Plesk will create the CSR and display it. You can now copy the CSR code.

Submit the CSR:

• Copy the CSR code and paste it into the CSR text box on the SSL order form.

How to Generate a CSR from cPanel

Step-by-Step Instructions for cPanel:

Log in to cPanel: Access your cPanel account using your username and password.

Navigate to SSL/TLS Manager:

• In the "Security" section, click on the "SSL/TLS" icon.

Generate a New Certificate Signing Request (CSR):

• Under "Certificate Signing Requests (CSR)", click on "Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests."

Enter CSR Details:

• Fill in the required information:
  • Domains: The fully qualified domain name (e.g., www.example.com).
  • City: The city where your organization is located.
  • State: The state or province where your organization is located.
  • Country: The two-letter country code (e.g., US for the United States).
  • Company: Your company's legally registered name.
  • Company Division: The department within your organization (e.g., IT Department).
  • Email: Your email address.
  • Passphrase: A passphrase to protect your private key (optional).

Generate CSR:

• Click on the "Generate" button to create the CSR.
• cPanel will display the CSR. You can now copy the CSR code.

Submit the CSR:

• Copy the CSR code and paste it into the CSR text box on the SSL order form.

Additional Resources

For more detailed instructions and information on generating a CSR, you can refer to the official documentation of your web server software or contact our support team for further assistance.

After submitting your Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and other required data, the process varies slightly depending on the type of Comodo certificate you are purchasing. Here is a detailed guide on what to expect and any additional actions required for each type of Comodo SSL certificate:

1. Positive SSL

Description: Positive SSL certificates are domain-validated (DV) certificates, providing basic encryption and quick issuance.

What to Expect:

• Email Verification: You will receive an email to the registered domain's administrative email address ([email protected], [email protected], etc.) for verification.
• Issuance Time: Typically issued within minutes to a few hours after successful email verification.
• Installation: Once issued, you will receive the SSL certificate files via email. Follow the installation instructions provided for your web server.

Additional Actions:

• Ensure access to the administrative email address for verification.
• Complete the email verification promptly.

2. Comodo SSL

Description: Comodo SSL certificates offer domain validation and are suitable for small to medium-sized websites.

What to Expect:

• Email Verification: Similar to Positive SSL, you will receive an email to the registered domain’s administrative email address for verification.
• Issuance Time: Typically issued within minutes to a few hours after successful email verification.
• Installation: You will receive the SSL certificate files via email. Follow the installation instructions provided for your web server.

Additional Actions:

• Ensure access to the administrative email address for verification.
• Complete the email verification promptly.

3. Wildcard SSL

Description: Wildcard SSL certificates provide encryption for a domain and its unlimited subdomains (e.g., *.yourdomain.com).

What to Expect:

• Email Verification: You will receive an email to the registered domain's administrative email address for verification.
• Issuance Time: Typically issued within minutes to a few hours after successful email verification.
• Installation: You will receive the SSL certificate files via email. Follow the installation instructions provided for your web server. Ensure that the CSR generated includes a wildcard domain (e.g., *.yourdomain.com).

Additional Actions:

• Ensure access to the administrative email address for verification.
• Complete the email verification promptly.
• Verify that the CSR includes a wildcard domain format.

4. EV SSL (Extended Validation)

Description: EV SSL certificates provide the highest level of validation, including business verification, and display the organization’s name in the browser’s address bar.

What to Expect:

• Business Verification: After submitting the CSR, you will undergo a thorough validation process, which includes:

  • Domain Ownership Verification: Usually done via email.
  • Business Verification: Comodo will verify your business details through official records and may request additional documentation such as proof of business registration, legal opinion letters, or financial statements.
  • Phone Verification: A call to the phone number listed in the public business directories to verify your identity and authorization to request the certificate.

• Communication:

  • Email Verification: Emails will come from Comodo/Sectigo’s official email addresses such as [email protected] or [email protected].
  • Business Verification Emails: These will also come from Comodo/Sectigo, often from the same addresses or specific validation team members.
  • Phone Call: Comodo/Sectigo will conduct a phone verification call to the number listed in public directories or provided during the application process.

• Issuance Time: Typically issued within 1-5 business days, depending on the speed of your response to verification requests.

• Installation: Once issued, you will receive the SSL certificate files via email. Follow the installation instructions provided for your web server.

Additional Actions:

• Prepare business verification documents (proof of registration, etc.).
• Ensure your business details are up-to-date in public records.
• Complete the domain ownership verification via email.
• Be available for the phone verification call.
• Check your email filters to ensure emails from sectigo.com and comodo.com are not marked as spam.
• Monitor the administrative email address for incoming verification emails.

General Tips for All Certificates

• CSR Accuracy: Ensure the CSR is accurate and includes the correct domain name or wildcard format.
• Administrative Email: Confirm that you have access to the administrative email address for the domain.
• Response Time: Promptly respond to any verification emails or requests from Comodo to expedite the issuance process.
• Installation: Follow the installation instructions carefully once you receive your SSL certificate.

By understanding these steps and requirements, you can ensure a smooth and efficient process for obtaining and installing your Comodo SSL certificate.