From Request to Ready: Generate CSR & Verify with DigiCert SSL Checker

Securing your website with SSL/TLS is a two-part process: first, you request the certificate, and second, you ensure it’s installed and working correctly. The initial step involves learning how to Generate CSR (Certificate Signing Request), often using the industry-standard OpenSSL toolkit. Once your certificate is issued by a Certificate Authority like sslrepo.com and installed on your server, verifying its configuration is crucial. This is where a tool like the DigiCert SSL Checker becomes invaluable, allowing you to perform a comprehensive check of your public-facing SSL setup.

This guide walks you through creating a CSR using OpenSSL and then leveraging the widely trusted DigiCert SSL Checker to validate your installation, ensuring your site is truly secure and trusted by visitors.

Key Takeaways: CSR Generation & Verification

• CSR Purpose: The CSR is an encoded text block containing your public key and identifying information (domain, organization) needed by a Certificate Authority (CA) to issue your SSL certificate.
• OpenSSL for CSR: OpenSSL is a robust, free, command-line tool commonly used to generate CSRs and their corresponding private keys.
• Post-Installation Check: After installing your SSL certificate, you MUST verify it’s configured correctly to avoid browser errors and security gaps.
• DigiCert SSL Checker: A free, comprehensive online tool provided by DigiCert (a leading CA) that analyzes the SSL/TLS certificate installation on any public web server, regardless of the issuing CA. ^^(Reference: DigiCert SSL Tools Website)
• Essential Workflow: Generate CSR -> Obtain & Install Certificate -> Verify with DigiCert SSL Checker.

Step 1: How to Generate CSR using OpenSSL

OpenSSL provides a standard method for creating your CSR and private key across various operating systems.

1. Open Terminal/Command Prompt: Access the command line on your server or any machine with OpenSSL installed.
2. Run the CSR Command: Execute the following command, replacing placeholders as needed: openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout yourdomain.key -out yourdomain.csr
   • openssl req: Invokes the certificate request utility.
   • -new -newkey rsa:2048: Creates a new CSR and a new 2048-bit RSA private key simultaneously.
   • -nodes: (No DES) Ensures the private key (.key file) is not password-protected. If you remove this, you’ll be prompted to set a password, which you’ll need later for server configuration or PFX creation.
   • -keyout yourdomain.key: Sets the filename for your private key (e.g., secure_site.key). Guard this file carefully – it must remain secret.
   • -out yourdomain.csr: Sets the filename for your CSR (e.g., secure_site.csr).
3. Enter Distinguished Name (DN) Details: You’ll be prompted to enter information that identifies your request:
   • Country Name (2 letter code): [e.g., US]
   • State or Province Name (full name): [e.g., New York]
   • Locality Name (eg, city): [e.g., Brooklyn]
   • Organization Name (eg, company): [Your official organization name]
   • Organizational Unit Name (eg, section): [Optional, e.g., IT]
   • Common Name (e.g., server FQDN or YOUR name): Most Critical. Enter the exact domain name you need to secure (e.g., www.yourdomain.com). For wildcards, use *.yourdomain.com.
   • Email Address: [A contact email]
   • A challenge password: [Optional – typically left blank]
   • An optional company name: [Optional – typically left blank]
4. Locate Your Files: Two files are created:
   • yourdomain.key: Your Private Key. Keep secure on your server.
   • yourdomain.csr: Your CSR file. Copy the entire content (including the -----BEGIN... and -----END... lines) when applying for your certificate at sslrepo.com or another CA.

Intermission: Certificate Issuance and Installation

Use the content of yourdomain.csr to order your SSL certificate from sslrepo.com. Once the CA validates your details and issues the certificate, download the provided files (usually your domain certificate and intermediate/chain certificates). Install these files, along with your private key (yourdomain.key), onto your web server (Apache, Nginx, IIS, etc.).

Step 2: Verify with the DigiCert SSL Checker

After installation, confirming everything is working correctly is vital. The DigiCert SSL Checker is an excellent tool for this.

1. Access the Tool: Search online for “DigiCert SSL Checker” or navigate directly to DigiCert’s diagnostic tools section on their website.
2. Enter Your Server Address: Input the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the server where you installed the certificate (e.g., www.yourdomain.com).
3. Start the Check: Click the button to initiate the analysis. The tool will connect to your server over port 443 (standard HTTPS port) and examine the SSL/TLS handshake and certificate presentation.
4. Analyze the Report: The checker provides detailed results, typically covering:
   • Certificate Match: Verifies if the Common Name or Subject Alternative Names (SANs) on the certificate match the domain you entered.
   • Certificate Chain: Checks if the server sends the necessary intermediate certificates to link your certificate back to a trusted root CA. An incomplete chain is a frequent cause of browser warnings.
   • Validity Period: Confirms the certificate is not expired.
   • Issuing Authority: Shows which CA issued the certificate.
   • Revocation Status: May perform checks (like OCSP) to see if the certificate has been revoked.
   • Server Configuration: Can provide insights into supported protocols (TLS versions) and potential configuration issues or weak cipher suites. ^^(Reference: TLS Protocol Security Standards)
   • Overall Summary: Gives a clear indication (e.g., green checkmarks or red warnings) of the installation’s health.

Why This Workflow Matters

Generating the CSR correctly ensures the certificate you receive contains the right information. Using the DigiCert SSL Checker (or a similar tool) after installation provides independent confirmation that browsers and other clients will trust your secure connection. It helps catch common errors like missing intermediate certificates or incorrect domain name coverage before your users encounter problems.

Wrapping It Up

Successfully implementing SSL/TLS involves precision at both the beginning and the end of the process. Mastering how to Generate CSR using OpenSSL sets the stage for obtaining the correct certificate. Following up with a thorough verification using a reliable tool like the DigiCert SSL Checker ensures your installation is robust, correctly configured, and provides the security and trust your visitors expect. Integrating both steps into your workflow is key to maintaining a secure and professional online presence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q1: Do I need to use OpenSSL to generate my CSR?
  No, it’s not the only way. Many hosting control panels (cPanel, Plesk) and server platforms (like Windows IIS) offer built-in CSR generation tools. OpenSSL is a common, powerful, cross-platform command-line option.
• Q2: Can I use the DigiCert SSL Checker for a certificate I bought from sslrepo.com?
  Yes. The DigiCert SSL Checker works by examining the publicly accessible SSL/TLS configuration of your server. It doesn’t matter which Certificate Authority issued the certificate.
• Q3: What are the most common errors found by the DigiCert SSL Checker?
  Common issues include:
  • Missing intermediate certificates (incomplete chain).
  • Certificate name mismatch (Common Name or SAN doesn’t match the requested domain).
  • Expired certificate.
  • Server configured to use old/insecure protocols (like SSLv3, early TLS) or weak cipher suites.
• Q4: What should I do if the DigiCert SSL Checker reports a problem?
  Read the specific error message provided by the tool. It usually points directly to the issue (e.g., “Chain is incomplete”). Consult your server documentation or CA’s instructions (like those from sslrepo.com) on how to fix the specific problem, which often involves re-uploading or reconfiguring the certificate files on your server.
• Q5: Is the private key (.key file) needed for the DigiCert SSL Check?
  No. The checker only interacts with the public-facing part of your server (what a browser sees). Your private key should always remain securely stored on your server and is not involved in this external check.
• Q6: If the check passes, does that mean my website cannot be hacked?
  No. A successful SSL check means your HTTPS connection is properly configured using a valid, trusted certificate. Overall website security involves many other aspects like application security, strong passwords, server patching, firewalls, and malware protection.