Ordering a Standard SSL certificate from Media Temple

Overview

The following article will instruct you on how to order and validate a Standard SSL from (mt) Media Temple.

What is a Standard SSL?

As a quick review, an SSL is required if you wish to have your site run over HTTPS. A Standard SSL is used to validate a single domain or single subdomain.

This means you could verify a single domain such as:

• example.com (www is automatically included)

OR you could verify a single subdomain such as:

• shop.example.com.

Ordering the SSL

1. Log into your Media Temple Account.
2. In the top-right corner of your Overview page, click on ADD NEW SERVICE.
   
3. Scroll down until you find SSL Certificate. Then click Get Started.
   
4. Select the Standard SSL option by clicking ADD TO CART.
   
5. Purchase the SSL certificate in your cart.

Fill out the SSL

1. Once you've purchased the SSL, return to the Overview page in your Media Temple Account.
2. Scroll down until you find your SSL, then click MANAGE.
   
3. Add the Primary Domain for your SSL
   • Do NOT include www during this step.
     
4. Fill out the appropriate contact information for your SSL. Then click CONTINUE.
   
   
   NOTE:
   If you plan to use HTML or DNS verification (which will be discussed later in this article) you will want to ensure that the SSL contact email address is one you have access to.
5. Check that your SSL information is correct. Then click CONFIRM CERTIFICATE.
   
6. The page will refresh, then click GENERATE CERTIFICATE.
   

Verifying the SSL

Once you have submitted the information for your SSL, verification will be required. There are four ways you will be able to verify ownership of the domain you are trying to secure.

Method 1: Auto-Confirm

For domains that have been added to your Media Temple account added to your Media Temple account added to your Media Temple account added to your Media Temple account, and with nameservers pointed to:

• ns1.mediatemple.net
• ns2.mediatemple.net

These domains will have the option to auto-verify and do not require any manual verification.

Method 2: Email Verification

This method can be utilized if you have access to the administrative emails for the domain that is to be secured. For instance, if we are verifying example.com, emails will be sent to:

• admin@example.com
• administrator@example.com
• hostmaster@example.com
• postmaster@example.com
• webmaster@example.com

When this email is received, you can open it, then click the validation link included. After a few minutes, the domain should verify.

Method 3: HTML Verification

This method can be utilized if you have access file access to your web hosting. This could include File Manager, FTP, or SSH. If you are unsure of where your website is hosted, feel free to check out the article below:

• How can I find out where my website is hosted?

Once you are logged into the appropriate account for file access, follow the instructions below:

1. In short, the goal of the HTML verification is to take a unique ID, and paste it in a specific file path on your server. For VPS servers, by default that file path will be: For Grid servers that file path will be: For Shared Hosting servers, by default that file path will be:
   • Plesk: example.com/httpdocs/.well-known/pki-validation/godaddy.html
   • cPanel: example.com/public_html/.well-known/pki-validation/godaddy.html
   • example.com/html/.well-known/pki-validation/godaddy.html
   • example.com/public_html/.well-known/pki-validation/godaddy.html
2. An email with a unique ID will be sent to the SSL contact email address, which was entered earlier when filling out the certificate. Keep a note of this unique ID.
   
3. Navigate to your domain’s root directory. root directory.
4. Once in your root directory, create a file path /.well-known/pki-validation/godaddy.html
5. Copy just your unique ID, and place it inside the godaddy.html file.
6. You may need to wait a a few minutes for the verification to process the new file. But that's it!

Method 4: DNS Verification

To utilize this method, you will need to log into the account where your DNS is hosted. If you are unsure of where your DNS is hosted, feel free to check out the article below:

•  How can I find out where my website is hosted?

Once you are logged into the appropriate account, follow the instructions below:

1. An email with a unique ID will be sent to the email address that had been inputted earlier as the SSL contact information.
   
2. Add a new record.
3. For record type select "TXT".
4. If your zone files are managed at Media Temple, leave the subdomain field blank. Other hosts may require you to use an '@' in the subdomain field.
5. For the value following the subdomain, enter your Unique ID.
6. Below is an example of what the record should generally look like. But as a reminder, you NEED to create this record where your DNS is hosted (this may or may not be Media Temple):
   

Please keep in mind that due to DNS propogation, verification may take up to 24 hours to complete. It is unlikely that verification will take 24 hours, but it can occur and is part of the normal verification process. You should also receive a second confirmation email once the certificate has been issued.

Installing the SSL

Once the SSL has been verifiied, you will want to install the SSL to your server. For information on installing an SSL to your server, click on the article below:

• Installing a Standard SSL Certificate from Media Temple Installing a Standard SSL Certificate from Media Temple Installing a Standard SSL Certificate from Media Temple Installing a Standard SSL Certificate from Media Temple