Configuring the Let's Encrypt SSL Certificate on your Vacation Labs website

Configuring the Let's Encrypt SSL Certificate on your Vacation Labs website

This guide will walk you through the steps to secure your website with a free, auto-generated SSL certificate from Let's Encrypt. This process validates your domain ownership and encrypts data between your visitors and your site.

Prerequisites:

  • You must have a custom domain (e.g., www.yourstore.com) already correctly configured and pointing to your Vacation Labs storefront. The DNS must be verified before you can enable SSL.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Access Domain Settings

  1. Log in to your Vacation Labs admin panel.

  2. From the main menu, navigate to Website.

  3. Select General.

  4. Scroll down to the Domain Settings section.




Step 2: Verify Your DNS Configuration

Before enabling SSL, you must confirm that your domain's DNS records are set up correctly.

  1. Within the Domain Settings section, click the Edit custom Domain Settings button.

  2. A configuration window will appear.

  3. Click the Verify DNS settings button. The system will run a check to ensure your domain's DNS records (like A-record and CNAME) are properly configured and propagated.

  4. Wait for all checks to pass and show a success status. If any checks fail, you will need to correct your DNS settings with your domain registrar before proceeding.






Step 3: Enable the Let's Encrypt Certificate

Once your DNS is verified, you can activate the SSL certificate.

  1. In the same configuration window, locate the Enable HTTPS section.

  2. Select the radio button for Yes - Use auto-generated SSL certificate from Let's Encrypt.

  3. Click the Save button to confirm and apply your changes.



NotesImportant Note on Propagation:
After saving, the SSL certificate will begin generating and installing on our servers. This process can take approximately 2-3 hours to complete globally. During this time, if you visit your site, you might see browser warnings stating the site is "not secure" or "insecure." Please allow the full propagation time to elapse before troubleshooting.



How to Verify SSL Certificate Activation

After waiting the recommended 2-3 hours, you can confirm your site is secure.

  1. Open a new browser window and navigate to your custom domain (e.g., https://www.yourstore.com).

  2. Look at the address bar in your browser.

  3. A successfully activated and valid SSL certificate will be indicated by a closed padlock icon (🔒) to the left of your website's URL.

  4. You can click on this padlock icon to view more details about the certificate, which will typically state "Connection is secure."





Troubleshooting

  • "Insecure Site" Warning After 3 Hours: If you still see a warning after the propagation time, first try a hard refresh of your browser (Ctrl + F5 on Windows, Cmd + Shift + R on Mac). If the issue persists, please contact our support team and specify the steps you have already taken.

  • DNS Verification Failures: If you cannot get the DNS verification to pass, double-check the records you entered with your domain host. Ensure there are no typos and that the records have had time to propagate (which can also take up to a few hours).