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After you buy an SSL certificate, activate it to start the issuance process. Activation involves generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), submitting your details, and completing domain (and organization) validation.

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Activation overview

1

Generate a CSR

Create a Certificate Signing Request on the server where you’ll install the SSL.
2

Submit your CSR

Paste the CSR into your EnrolWeb SSL activation form along with contact details.
3

Choose validation method

Pick email, DNS, or HTTP-based domain validation.
4

Complete validation

Follow the steps for your chosen method to prove domain ownership.
5

Receive your certificate

Once issued, download your SSL certificate files to install.

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Generate a CSR

In cPanel:
1

Open SSL/TLS

In cPanel, open SSL/TLS under the Security section.
2

Generate a private key

Click Private Keys, then Generate a New Private Key with a 2048-bit or 4096-bit RSA key.
3

Generate the CSR

Click Certificate Signing Requests, choose the key, enter your organization info, and generate.
4

Copy the CSR

Copy the entire block including the -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- and -----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- lines.

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Submit and choose validation

1

Open your SSL order

In your EnrolWeb dashboard, go to SSL Certificates and open your pending certificate.
2

Paste the CSR

Paste the full CSR into the activation form.
3

Enter contact info

Provide administrative and technical contacts (name, email, phone).
4

Pick a validation method

Choose from email, DNS, or HTTP validation.

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Domain validation methods

Email validation

Approve from an admin address on the domain (admin@, webmaster@, hostmaster@).

DNS validation

Add a CNAME or TXT record with the value provided.

HTTP validation

Upload a specific file to .well-known/pki-validation/ on your site.

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Organization and Extended Validation

For OV and EV certificates, you’ll also complete organization vetting:
  • Provide business registration documents
  • Verify a phone listing in a public directory
  • For EV, complete a verification call with the Certificate Authority
DV certificates issue in minutes. OV takes 1-3 days. EV takes 1-7 days.

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Next steps

Once issued, move on to [Installing SSL](/SSL & Website Security/contact-2-2).
Save your private key in a safe location. You’ll need it during installation.
Trouble activating? Contact support@enrolweb.com.