How do I cover both versions of my domain (www and non-www) with this RapidSSL certificate?
If you intend to secure your root domain (“www.domain.com” and/or “domain.com”) RapidSSL certificates can cover both of these versions, only if you create your CSR with the “WWW.”
Generate the CSR so the Common Name (Domain Name) is “www.yourdomian.com”. RapidSSL will then automatically include “yourdomain.com” in the certificate when you receive it. Covering both versions has no downsides and enables more flexibility.
If you want to cover a different subdomain, such as “store.yourdomain.com”, then this unfortunately does not apply to your order. In this case just generate your CSR with the exact subdomain desired.
Can I change the Domain Name (Common Name) on my RapidSSL certificate?
If you generated your order less than 30 days ago, we can accommodate a change in the domain name (common name) at no extra charge.
To change a Domain Name (Common Name) you will need to create a new CSR for the desired domain. Then use the “Cancel and Reorder” button available below to get a free replacement for this order.
Where do I get a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) for this RapidSSL certificate?
A CSR is an encoded message that contains information about your desired certificate. It can be created by you through your server (typically if you have your own server, a VPS, or run IIS/Exchange), or comes from your host (true for most “shared” hosting plans).
If you think you will need to generate your own Certificate Signing Request, you can consult our knowledgebase for instructions for your server: https://sslhelpdesk.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/List/Index/6/rapidssl. If you need your host to generate a CSR for you (most shared plans), please contact them directly to inquire about the proper procedure.
When you create your CSR, a matching “Private Key” is also created. The CSR is needed to request a certificate, and is entered into our website during the “Generation” process. The Private Key stays with you and will enable the certificate to function once it’s installed. Once obtained, you’ll need to submit the CSR via the corresponding form field.
How do I get my Site Seal (static) for this RapidSSL certificate?
All RapidSSL certificates come with a Static Site Seal that allows you to display to your visitors and customers that your website is secured by an SSL. This seal is “Static”, meaning it is just a basic image file that does not display a live time/date stamp or any company details. To obtain a seal with live time & date stamps or company details, you would need to consider another certificate that offers a “Dynamic Site Seal”. To download the image file for RapidSSL’s static site seal, please visit
https://knowledge.rapidssl.com/support/ssl-certificate-support/index?page=content&id=SO14424
GeoTrust, a premium sister brand (and root) to RapidSSL, offers a “Dynamic Site Seal” which shows your secure connection to visitors with live & up-to-the-minute confirmation that you were verified by GeoTrust. If you recently purchased your certificate (within 30 days), you can talk to our support team to discuss a certificate upgrade.
How do I make sure browsers will trust my RapidSSL certificate?
To ensure your RapidSSL certificate is recognized by all browsers, make sure you install the Intermediate Certificates that were provided with the Server Certificate. Intermediate Certificates are simply “chain certificates” that help devices identify where your certificate came from. If you need another copy of these, you can download them directly from RapidSSL:
https://knowledge.rapidssl.com/support/ssl-certificate-support/index?page=content&id=AR1548&actp=LIST&viewlocale=en_US
(In most cases you will want to use the second section, titled RSA SHA-2 (under SHA-1 Root) SSL Certificates, because the new industry standard is SHA-2. If your certificate is still SHA-1 you will use the RSA SHA-1 SSL Certificates section, but we also recommending that you update to a SHA-2 certificate.)
RapidSSL is recognized automatically in many browsers, but some older systems and mobile platforms (Windows XP, iPhone iOS) use these Intermediate Certificates because they ensure recent technological changes with regard to SSL will not have any impact on your site’s security.
We always recommend installing the Intermediate Certificates to ensure maximum compatibility.
