A CSR, or Certificate Signing Request, is a block of encoded text you provide when buying an SSL certificate from a certificate authority. It contains your domain and organisation details and is generated alongside a private key. This guide explains how to create one in DirectAdmin.
When you need a CSR #
You need a CSR when purchasing a paid or third-party SSL certificate. If you are using Disoh’s free Let’s Encrypt certificates, you do not need a CSR, as those are issued automatically.
Generating the CSR #
- Log in to DirectAdmin.
- Open the SSL Certificates section for your domain.
- Choose the option to create a certificate request.
- Fill in the details: your domain (common name), organisation, city, state, and country.
- Generate, and DirectAdmin creates the CSR and a matching private key.
Using the CSR #
- Copy the CSR text and paste it into your SSL provider’s order form.
- Keep the private key safe and do not share it.
- Once the provider issues the certificate, install it in DirectAdmin.
Filling in the details correctly #
Enter your domain exactly as you want it secured, and provide accurate organisation details, since the certificate authority may validate them. For a simple domain-validated certificate, the domain is the most important field.
Troubleshooting #
- Certificate rejected: confirm the common name matches the domain you are securing.
- Lost the private key: generate a new CSR and key, and reissue the certificate.
Need help? #
If you are buying an SSL certificate and need help with the CSR, our support team can guide you over live chat.
