Regardless of how many servers you may use or the types of software platforms on the various servers, it is possible to use the same Wildcard SSL/TLS certificate. This makes sense if you keep in mind that the secure sockets layer protocol is able to match a common name or Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) to a specific trusted certificate.
In the use of a Wildcard SSL certificate on multiple servers, the process for application for the certificate and then subsequent installation will be identical to a single SSL certificate, at least until you also provide the installation on the subsequent servers.
The First Step
The first step in installing and using the Wildcard SSL certificate on multiple servers is to generate the Certificate Signing Request (CSR). This is done on the server. Each different server software will have a different option for the generation of the CSR.
With the Microsoft IIS platform, it is done through the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. You will then go through the prompts from the main screen into the administrative tools and the Server Certificate Icon. This is going to be a basic follow the prompts system.
When using a Linux-based platform such as Apache, Tomcat or others, use the OpenSSL command line to generate the CSR. This is also not too involved and we provide full information in our knowledgebase section. You can easily search by server software to complete step-by-step instructions.
During the generation of the CSR, you will be required to fill in specific information. This will include the common name, which may also be written as the fully qualified domain name or FQDN. With the FQDN you would include all three parts of the full common name including the www.mycompany.com where your actual company name would be in the place of "mycompany".
However, for the Wildcard SSL certificate on multiple servers, or even if used on just one server, use the wildcard placeholder in place of the "www." In the example above the common name on the CSR would look like *.mycompany.com.
As this CSR is generated on one of the servers you will use, it will also generate a file for a private key. This is important to keep secure and safe, do not allow anyone else to use or see the file. That will be placed on your server where only the administrator has password protected access.
Installing the CSR
You will then submit the CSR and a bit of information to the website. Within minutes you will have the files you need to complete the install. They will need to be unzipped and placed on the server in the correct directories.
Some systems will use a manager type of system, which is very user-friendly, or the Wildcard SSL certificate on multiple servers can also be installed using OpenSSL. Once installed on the original server used to generate the CSR you can then use the copy to convert the format for other servers.
Of course, if you are using all the same platform across multiple servers, there will be no need to convert the file format. If you do, we offer a file converter that allows you to simply choose the current file format and the format you require.
The process of installing the certificate and then exporting it, with the private key, from the original server to another server is also a standard type of process. It is the same as exporting and importing any other files; you will just need to ensure it is the correct format.
Our tech team is also available to provide assistance if you do run into a problem. Remember, with our products there is not additional charges or licenses required and we provide unlimited installation on physical servers to ensure your websites are secure across the platforms you require.
As our root certificates are recognized by 99.9% of browsers and devices, using the Wildcard SSL certificate on multiple servers is a very wise idea. It is also important to note that the issues with wildcard certificates and mobile devices have been virtually eliminated with all of the new mobile operating systems, although on old systems or those that have not been upgraded some Wildcards may not display. This is not a certificate issue but rather a case of an old operating system on the device.
If you need any assistance in learning more about the use of Wildcard SSL certificate on multiple servers, give our staff a call at +1-888-266-6361. You can also contact us through live chat.