TranslatedPages

Configure your web site to use https

By default, your web site does not communicate with the world using an encrypted connection. When you connect, it uses the "http" protocol instead of the "https" protocol.

We strongly encourage all members to change this setting so all communications is encrypted. Even if you don't think it is necessary, consider that all information you send to the site, which may include usernames and passwords, are sent in the clear unless you are using https.

Fortunately, the process of choosing to run an https enabled web site is fully handled in the members control panel:

• Log in via ​https://members.mayfirst.org/cp.
• Choose the "Web Configuration" section.
• Edit your web configuration and remove any domains from ServerAlias or ServerName that are a sub-domain of mayfirst.org (e.g. yourorg.mayfirst.org). You should only have your own personal domains listed (this is temporary until #12045 is resolved).
• Be sure that the DNS entries for any domains entered as ServerName or ServerAlias actually resolve to the ip number of your website host.
• Edit your web configuration and change the "Port" field to "auto".
• Click "Submit".

How does it work?

You have several options when choosing to configure your web sites. Each site will have and does need at least one web configuration item.

auto

The best option is to use "auto." When your web site is configured to use auto, then:

• A ​letsencrypt certificate will be automatically generated at no cost for all the domains in your web configuration (both Server Name and Server Alias).
• This certificate will be automatically updated every three months
• All requests sent via http will be automatically redirected to https

http

If you prefer, you can opt instead to have an http-only site by choosing http.

https

You may also wish to use your own certificates, in which case select "https" and specify the SSLEngine On, SSLCertificateKeyFile, and SSLCertificateFile parameters in your configuration that point to the appropriate files. If your web configuration has only an https item, you won't have an http site at all. Note that this means anyone trying to reach your site with http will get an "Error 404 Server not found" message.

Both http and https

You can also choose to have a different web configuration for http and https or control the redirecting in a more fine-tuned way. For sites that have https enabled with a certificate that they purchased or obtained themselves, their web configuration will have two items: one for each http and https.

What if I already have an https web site?

You can easily convert your site from an https web site to an auto web site.

If you have both an http and an https web configuration, you must first delete the http one.

Then, edit the https site, remove the SSL lines, and change it to auto.

Do I need to make any additional changes to my website internal configuration?

This depends on how your website has been created. For WordPress sites it is necessary to ​change the siteurl and any internal references to the http version of the site to the https version. If you are using Drupal and you have explicity set the $base_url variable in your default/settings.php file you will need to update that value, otherwise the change should be automatic. html only sites will have to have their internal URL's updated manually.