SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates are essential for securing website connections and ensuring data integrity. Occasionally, you may need to reissue SSL certificates due to expiration, changes in domain configuration, or other reasons. This knowledge base provides detailed information on how to reissue SSL certificates in WHM cPanel for enhanced website security.

1. Understanding SSL Certificate Reissuance:

   • SSL certificate reissuance is the process of obtaining a new certificate to replace an existing one while retaining the same domain.

2. Accessing SSL/TLS in WHM:

   • Log in to WHM using your administrator credentials.

3. Navigating to SSL/TLS Management:

   • In WHM, locate and select 'SSL/TLS' from the menu.

4. Viewing Installed Certificates:

   • Click on 'Manage SSL Hosts' to view a list of installed SSL certificates for various domains.

5. Checking Certificate Expiry Dates:

   • Review the expiry dates of existing SSL certificates to determine if reissuance is necessary.

6. Requesting a Certificate Reissue:

   • Select the domain for which you want to reissue the certificate and click 'Reissue'.

7. Providing Required Information:

   • Complete the necessary fields, including the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and other details requested by the Certificate Authority (CA).

8. Generating a New CSR (If Required):

   • If requested by the CA, use WHM's 'Generate a New Certificate Signing Request (CSR)' feature to create a new CSR.

9. Submitting the Reissue Request:

   • Click 'Submit' to send the reissue request to the CA.

10. Verifying Domain Ownership:

    • Complete any verification steps required by the CA to confirm domain ownership.

11. Installing the Reissued Certificate:

    • Once the CA approves the reissue request, return to 'Manage SSL Hosts' in WHM and select the domain.

    • Click 'Install New Certificate' and provide the certificate files provided by the CA.

12. Restarting Services (If Required):

    • In some cases, you may need to restart services like Apache for the changes to take effect.

13. Testing the New Certificate:

    • Use a web browser to verify that the new SSL certificate is installed correctly and working.

14. Updating Certificate Configuration (If Necessary):

    • Adjust any configurations or settings in cPanel or the website to reflect the new certificate.

15. Updating SSL URLs (If Necessary):

    • Ensure that any references to SSL URLs within your website code or configurations are updated to reflect the new certificate.

16. Setting Up Auto-Renewal (Optional):

    • Consider enabling auto-renewal features provided by some CAs to prevent certificate expiration in the future.

17. Keeping Track of Certificate Expiry Dates:

    • Maintain a schedule to monitor SSL certificate expiry dates and plan for reissuance well in advance.

18. Handling Multi-Domain or Wildcard Certificates:

    • Follow similar steps for reissuing and installing multi-domain or wildcard SSL certificates.

19. Educating Users on Certificate Management:

    • Provide guidance to users on managing SSL certificates for their domains hosted on your server.

20. Documenting Certificate Reissuance:

    • Keep detailed records of SSL certificate reissuance, including dates, domains, and CA details.

21. Responding to Certificate Errors:

    • In the event of any certificate-related errors, use WHM's logs and error messages to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Conclusion:

Reissuing SSL certificates in WHM cPanel is a crucial aspect of maintaining website security and ensuring uninterrupted HTTPS connections. By following the steps outlined in this knowledge base, you can effectively reissue SSL certificates, update configurations, and provide secure connections for your websites.