VPS and Dedicated Server Installation

Virtual Private Servers (VPS) and dedicated servers provide complete control over SSL installation but require more technical knowledge. The process varies by operating system and web server software, but understanding the fundamentals helps across platforms. We'll focus on the most common combination: Linux with Apache or Nginx, though the concepts apply broadly.

For Apache on Ubuntu/Debian systems, begin by enabling the SSL module with sudo a2enmod ssl and restarting Apache. Generate your CSR using OpenSSL: openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout domain.key -out domain.csr. Submit this CSR to your certificate authority. Once you receive your certificate, create a new virtual host configuration file in /etc/apache2/sites-available/ for your SSL site. Configure the virtual host with your certificate paths, enable it with a2ensite, and restart Apache. Ensure your configuration includes modern SSL protocols and cipher suites for security.

Nginx configuration follows similar principles but with different syntax. After obtaining your certificate, create or modify your server block in /etc/nginx/sites-available/. Specify your certificate and private key paths, configure SSL protocols and ciphers, and enable useful features like OCSP stapling. Nginx's configuration syntax is often cleaner than Apache's, making it popular for modern deployments. Test your configuration with nginx -t before restarting to catch syntax errors that could cause downtime.

Let's Encrypt automation on VPS systems typically uses Certbot or alternative ACME clients. Install Certbot through your package manager, then run certbot --nginx or certbot --apache for automated configuration. Certbot detects your existing sites, obtains certificates, configures your web server, and sets up automatic renewal via cron. For more control, use certbot certonly to obtain certificates without automatic configuration, allowing manual integration with complex setups.