Arch Linux is a Linux distribution created for computers with x86-64 processors. Arch Linux adheres to the KISS principle ("Keep It Simple, Stupid").
The project attempts to have minimal distribution-specific changes, and therefore minimal breakage with updates, and be pragmatic over ideological design choices and focus on customizability rather than user-friendliness.
Pacman, a package manager written specifically for Arch Linux, is used to install, remove and update software packages. Arch Linux uses a rolling release model, meaning there are no "major releases" of completely new versions of the system.
- Step 1: Generating a CSR and Private Key
- Step 2: Order and Configure the SSL Certificate
- Step 3: Upload the SSL Certificate files to your server
- Step 4: Configure the httpd SSL Parameters
- Step 5: Configure the httpd Virtual Host
- Step 6: Check your SSL Installation
Pre-requisite commands:-
1: Update the system and install Apache
sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S apache
2: Start Apache:-
sudo systemctl start httpd
3: Check whether Apache is running:-
sudo systemctl status httpd
4: Create a default SSL directory under the httpd directory:-
sudo mkdir /etc/httpd/conf/ssl
Step 1. Generating a CSR and Private Key with OpenSSL
1: Execute the following command to generate a private key and a CSR -
sudo openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout /etc/httpd/conf/ssl/server.key -out /etc/httpd/conf/ssl/server.csr
This will create a private key and a CSR with the name of server.key and server.csr respectively; in the default ssl directory.
You will then get a prompt asking you to input the following details regarding your CSR:-
Country Name (2 letter code) [AU]: Type in the 2 letter abbreviation for your country.
State or Province Name (full name) [Some-State]: Full name of the state
Organization Name (eg, company) [Internet Widgits Pty Ltd]:Locality Name (eg, city) []: Complete name of the city, no abbreviations
Organization Name (eg, company) [Internet Widgits Pty Ltd]: If you are a business; Enter your legal entity name. If you're not a business, any value entered will not be used in your certificate.
Organizational Unit Name (eg, section) []: If you are a business; Write the appropriate division of your company. It is best to use something generic such as "IT".
Common Name (e.g. server FQDN or YOUR name) []: Enter your domain name
Email Address []: Enter your email address
After you hit Enter, your Private Key and CSR should be saved successfully in the default ssl directory.
2: To view your CSR, type in the following command:
sudo cat /etc/httpd/conf/ssl/server.csr
You can save the CSR in a .txt file or directly proceed to certificate configuration.
Step 2. Order and Configure the SSL Certificate
Now we need to order an SSL Certificate. If you visit our SSL Certificates List page, you will have a selection of Certificates you can order from. If you have a simple website and want to one domain, you can choose from a variety of standard SSL Certificates. If you are a business website you may want to look at using a Business SSL, we recommend a GeoTrust SSL such as the True Business SSL.
If you require any assistance with selecting an SSL Certificate, please feel free to contact our sales/support team and they will be happy to assist.
1: Order the SSL and complete the checkout process.
2: Once you have completed the SSL Certificate Purchase you can begin the configuration process. This can be started by going into your SSLTrust account and managing your recent purchase.
You then will need to click the Submit Configuration button to begin the configuration process.
3: You now need to paste in the CSR you generated using the OpenSSL library in the Ubuntu CLI. This includes the lines:
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST---- -----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
Select Apache/Other for your Web Server Type.
You will need to also enter the Site Administrator Contact Information.
This information is to be of the individual who is responsible to approve and SSL Certificate. If it is a business SSL, it needs to be a contact under the business.
The Technical Contact Information is the details of the individual responsible for the installation and management of the Certificate.
If you have ordered a business SSL, you will also be required to enter your business details. These should be the correct address and phone number and legal entity name. They will be required to be validated by the Certificate Authority, any mistakes will cause delays. More information on Business Validation can be found here.
4: Click Continue to go to the next Step. Here you need to select the Authentication Method to validate your domain name. This is required to prove you own the domain name and have permission to issue an SSL Certificate for the domain.
Select the method that will be the easiest for you to use; File-Based Authentication ( HTTP / HTTPS ), CNAME Based Authentication ( DNS ) or Certificate Approver Email.
If you have access to one of the listed emails, this can be the quickest method
Click Continue/Submit to finish the Configuration process.
After you complete the domain validation via your selected method, your SSL will be issued. If you ordered a Business SSL, you will need to wait for the Certificate Authority to complete the Business address and phone validation. If the validation has not progressed, or you have not received your Certificate after some time, please contact our support team so we can check on its status.
Step 3. Upload the SSL Certificate files to your server
When your SSL Certificate has been issued, you will be emailed the Certificate Directly from the Certificate Authority. You can also download it from your SSLTrust Portal. Downloading it from the SSLTrust Portal is a good option as we format the certificate in an easy to use way.
Again; View your certificate management page within SSLTrust
1: Click on the Manage button and collect/download your certificate
2: Go to the first column and click on copy to clipboard
Now, execute the following command-
sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/ssl/certificate.crt
Paste your certificate and exit the buffer.
3: Head over to the certificate collection page and click on copy to clipboard on the Intermediate certificate.
Note:- It is recommended that you install your intermediate certificate too so as improve compatibility with browsers; and to minimize the chances of your visitors getting unwanted security warnings on your website.
sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/ssl/intermediate.crt
Paste your Intermediate certificate and exit the buffer.
Step 4. Configure the httpd SSL Parameters
sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/extra/httpd-ssl.conf
Now edit the secure web server configuration file and locate/modify the directives as shown below.
LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so LoadModule socache_shmcb_module modules/mod_socache_shmcb.so Listen 443 SSLCipherSuite HIGH:MEDIUM:!aNULL:!MD5 SSLPassPhraseDialog builtin SSLSessionCache "shmcb:/run/httpd/ssl_scache(512000)" SSLSessionCacheTimeout 300
Save and exit the buffer.
Step 5. Configure the httpd Virtual Host
sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
Uncomment the following lines (Remove the '#' symbol):-
LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so LoadModule socache_shmcb_module modules/mod_socache_shmcb.so Include conf/extra/httpd-ssl.conf
Additionaly, at the very end, append the 2 following lines:- (Only if you are using multiple virtualhosts)
IncludeOptional conf/sites-enabled/*.conf IncludeOptional conf/mods-enabled/*.conf
Furthermore, the most important part of this step is the ServerName and the Certificate location.
Make sure you input the correct certificate path.
DocumentRoot "/srv/http"
ServerName yourdomain.com
ServerAdmin you@example.com
ErrorLog "/var/log/httpd/localhost-ssl-error_log"
TransferLog "/var/log/httpd/localhost-ssl-access_log"
SSLEngine on
SSLCertificateFile "/etc/httpd/conf/ssl/certificate.crt"
SSLCertificateKeyFile "/etc/httpd/conf/ssl/server.key"
SSLCertificateChainFile "/etc/httpd/conf/ssl/intermediate.crt"
Also, change yourdomain.com to your domain name.
Then, restart the httpd service
systemctl restart httpd.service
Step 6. Check the SSL is working
It is a good idea to go to your website and see if it works via https://www.yourdomain.com We also recommend you use this tool to check the install has been completed successfully: www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/
You may need to get your web developer, or update your website yourself, to make sure all files use https:// and all links to your site and within your website use https://
If you require any assistance with your SSL Installation please contact our friendly support team.