Secure Socket Layer (SSL) allows a secure communication channel to be set up between the server and your customer's browser. Once this connection has been made, information, like credit card numbers, can be exchanged with no chance of a third party intercepting the data.
Shared SSL
With Shared SSL your site will be accessed securely via our secure server, the secure URL for your site will be www1.securesiteserver.co.uk/(your account's username)/. The encryption and technical security of Shared SSL is identical to that used by Personal SSL; however it does not offer assurance of your organisations legitimacy as Personal SSL does.
Installing Shared SSL
To install Shared SSL on your account click the 'Install Shared SSL' link on the "SSL" page in your site's Control Panel. You will be asked to confirm the action before SSL is actually installed on your account.
Removing Shared SSL
To remove Shared SSL from your account click the 'Remove Shared SSL' link on the "SSL" page. You will be asked to confirm the action before SSL is actually removed from your account.
Using SSL
To view your pages securely, see the "SSL" page to determine your SSL site address. This site address functions just like any domain name that is mapped to your account, being mapped to the root directory of your web space. This means that there is no need for you to upload your pages separately to a secure server.
Path To Your Shared SSL Web Space
When your site is accessed via Shared SSL, the full system path to your web space changes. It is based on your account username and the number of the web server your account is hosted on which you can get from the "Information" page. For an account with the username 'joebloggs', hosted on Server No. 4, the path to its web space when accessed over SSL would be:
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/fs/home/4/j/o/joebloggs/public_html
You must substitute '4', 'j', 'o' and 'joebloggs' with your server number, the first and second letters of your account username, and your account username respectively.
Using mySQL with Shared SSL
If you wish your Shared SSL secure pages to be able to access your mySQL database, you must use the data base server host name 'serverX' in your secure pages. Where X is the number of the web server your account is hosted on, you can get this information from the "Information" page. Using this hostname means that mySQL database connections will be made across the network rather than through a local socket. Since local sockets are much quicker and more efficient, this special host name should only be used in secure pages.
Notes On SSL
Please note that SSL does not include software to process credit card transactions. Although you can securely receive credit card information through SSL, actual processing of the credit card will require a 'Merchant account' from an accredited financial institution.
