AutoSSL, a feature provided by cPanel, automatically installs and renews SSL certificates for domains hosted on a server. However, errors can occur during the AutoSSL process, causing SSL certificates to fail or not be issued. This knowledge base provides an in-depth guide to common AutoSSL errors, their causes, and effective solutions.

Table of Contents

1. Domain Ownership Verification Failure

   • Description: AutoSSL cannot verify domain ownership, preventing certificate issuance.

   • Causes: Missing or incorrect DNS records, domain registration issues.

   • Solutions: Ensure correct and up-to-date DNS records, confirm domain ownership through the registrar.

2. Excluded Domains

   • Description: Domains are excluded from AutoSSL due to misconfiguration or explicit exclusion.

   • Causes: Misconfigured exclusion lists, manual exclusions in cPanel.

   • Solutions: Review and adjust the AutoSSL exclusion list, remove any unnecessary exclusions.

3. Rate Limit Exceeded

   • Description: Let's Encrypt, the certificate authority used by AutoSSL, enforces rate limits on certificate issuance.

   • Causes: Too many certificate requests in a short period, excessive renewal attempts.

   • Solutions: Wait for the rate limit to reset, consider using a different certificate authority, or stagger certificate requests.

4. DNS Resolution Issues

   • Description: AutoSSL cannot resolve the domain's DNS, preventing certificate issuance.

   • Causes: Incorrect DNS settings, DNS propagation delays.

   • Solutions: Verify DNS settings, ensure proper propagation, and use reliable DNS servers.

5. Certificate Authority (CA) Errors

   • Description: Issues with the certificate authority's API or services.

   • Causes: CA service outage, misconfiguration in cPanel.

   • Solutions: Check the CA's status page for any known issues, verify cPanel settings, and contact support if needed.

6. Expired or Invalid Domain

   • Description: The domain's DNS record does not match the domain name specified in the certificate request.

   • Causes: Incorrect domain names, DNS misconfigurations.

   • Solutions: Verify domain names, correct DNS configurations, and reissue the SSL certificate.

7. Insufficient Server Resources

   • Description: The server lacks the resources to handle SSL certificate requests.

   • Causes: Low memory, CPU, or disk space.

   • Solutions: Upgrade server resources or optimize resource usage.

8. Firewall Restrictions

   • Description: Firewall rules may block the necessary communication with the certificate authority's servers.

   • Causes: Overly strict firewall settings.

   • Solutions: Review and adjust firewall rules to allow necessary connections.

9. Certificate Revocation List (CRL) Errors

   • Description: Issues with retrieving the Certificate Revocation List from the CA.

   • Causes: Network issues, CA service problems.

   • Solutions: Check network connectivity, ensure CA services are operational.

10. cPanel Update Required

    • Description: An outdated cPanel version may have compatibility issues with AutoSSL.

    • Causes: Outdated cPanel installation.

    • Solutions: Update cPanel to the latest version, and ensure it is compatible with AutoSSL.

11. Incomplete Certificate Chain

    • Description: The SSL certificate chain is missing or incomplete, leading to trust errors.

    • Causes: Missing intermediate or root certificates during installation.

    • Solutions: Reinstall the SSL certificate with the complete certificate chain.

12. Debugging AutoSSL Logs

    • Description: Insufficient information to diagnose AutoSSL errors.

    • Causes: Inadequate logging settings or analysis.

    • Solutions: Enable detailed logging, review log files for specific error messages, and seek assistance if needed.

Conclusion Effectively managing AutoSSL errors is essential for ensuring secure and reliable SSL certificates on hosted domains. By understanding common issues and their solutions, you can troubleshoot and resolve AutoSSL errors effectively. Regular monitoring, proper configuration, and timely updates are crucial steps toward maintaining a secure web hosting environment.