Editing Let's Encrypt SSL Certificates on Namecheap Hosting (Legacy)

<div class="alert alert-info">See [[Installing Let's Encrypt SSL Certificates On Namecheap Hosting]] for current information about this topic.</div>

<div class="alert alert-warning">The information below is saved for archival purposes. It details the original (manual) method for installing and renewing Let's Encrypt certificates.</div>

=== Installing a certificate for the first time ===

This [https://gist.github.com/Shourai/bfd9f549a41c836c99c0c660c9271df6 Gist] has detailed instructions on how to install a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate for a web site hosted on Namecheap.

It references [https://github.com/diafygi/acme-nosudo this Python script] which conducts the challenge with Let's Encrypt that verifies control of the domain(s).

=== Renewing the certificate ===

Let's Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days.

==== Automated ====

Some links that rely on `acme.sh` to renew certificates:

* [https://github.com/Neilpang/acme.sh/wiki/Simple-guide-to-add-TLS-cert-to-cpanel Simple guide to add TLS cert to cpanel]
* [https://www.juliogonzalez.es/lets-encrypt-ssl-certificates-at-cpanel-without-native-support-for-example-at-namecheap/352 Let’s encrypt SSL certificates at cPanel automatically and without native support]

==== Manually renewing ====

* SSH to the server. <ref>[https://gist.github.com/Shourai/bfd9f549a41c836c99c0c660c9271df6 Letsencrypt SSL certificate with namecheap hosting] - Gist</ref>
* Navigate to the directory containing Let's Encrypt keys and scripts, e.g. `~/letsencrypt/letsencrypt_nosudo/`
* Generate a new signed certificate:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
python sign_csr.py -f --public-key user.pub ./[DOMAIN]/domain.csr > ./[DOMAIN]/signed.crt
</syntaxhighlight>

* This will first prompt for an admin email address.
* Then it will prompt for a series of commands to be entered, which create JSON files that are used by the signing script.
* Then it will prompt for a file to be installed on the server for each of the subdomains included in the certificate. <br />'''Note'''&mdash;if the directory is password-protected the authorization will fail.

For example: 

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
STEP 5: Please update your server to serve the following file at this URL:

--------------
URL: http://cms.littledamien.com/.well-known/acme-challenge/KzyAel9e7pAXhqYTpBRfqFDTt5JJ09QMnr6yF24H0_g
File contents: "KzyAel9e7pAXhqYTpBRfqFDTt5JJ09QMnr6yF24H0_g.4D84KExUmpNjNtJm9FyfK_Ztf-JapYGv6c8uZ07hclA"
--------------
</syntaxhighlight>

In which case issue the command from the `letsencrypt-nosudo` directory:

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
echo "KzyAel9e7pAXhqYTpBRfqFDTt5JJ09QMnr6yF24H0_g.4D84KExUmpNjNtJm9FyfK_Ztf-JapYGv6c8uZ07hclA" > ../../path/to/public_html/.well-known/acme-challenge/KzyAel9e7pAXhqYTpBRfqFDTt5JJ09QMnr6yF24H0_g
</syntaxhighlight>

''(The three steps above are the ones that would need to be automated somehow. Possibly `acme.sh` provides an alternative method for satisfying Let's Encrypt's challenge.)''

After verifying each of the domains, a signed certificate is created. 

The certificate is installed with: <ref>[https://gist.github.com/Shourai/bfd9f549a41c836c99c0c660c9271df6#gistcomment-2351618 Using uapi tool to install certificates]</ref>

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
crt=`cat ./[DOMAIN]/signed.crt | python urlencode.py`
key=`cat ./[DOMAIN]/domain.key | python urlencode.py`
uapi SSL install_ssl domain=[MYDOMAIN.TLD] cert="$crt" key="$key"
</syntaxhighlight>

''Hint: Look for a script containing the commands immediately above in the directories dedicated to the domains to be signed, e.g. `~/letsencrypt/letsencrypt-nosudo/damienjay/install_cert`.''

After installing the certificate, it can be verified, and expired certificates can be removed by visiting '''cPanel''' > '''Security''' > '''SSL/TLS''' > '''Certficates (CRT)''' > '''Generate, view, upload, or delete SSL certificates'''