When requesting an SSL certificate, we might require you verify that you control the domain you're requesting the certificate for. To show you control the domain, there are two options:
| DCV Method | How it works |
|
DNS record (Recommended) |
Create a TXT record we specify in your domain name's zone (DNS) file |
|
HTML page |
Upload an HTML page with content we specify to a distinct directory of the website for the common name you're using. You cannot use the HTML method with Wildcard certificates. With the HTML method, the certificate will only be validated for the root domain like coolexample.com. If you need the certificate to cover additional CNAMES like www.coolexample.com and blog.coolexample.com, use the DNS record method. |
DNS record (Recommended)
You will receive an email from us with a TXT value needed to create in your domain name's DNS zone file or you can find it by logging navigating to 'Services' > 'Retrieve Certificate' in your account. Adding this TXT record won't impact your website at all; it's something you can only view through a special tool which performs DNS lookups.
You can only create the TXT record through the company whose nameservers your domain name uses. If your domain name uses our nameservers, see Manage DNS records.
TXT records need to be added to the root level of the domain.
Use the following information to create your TXT record:
| Field | What to Enter |
|
Name (Host) |
Type @ (If your DNS is hosted outside of Cloud Sprout, you may need to leave this blank) |
|
Value |
Type the entire TXT value we provided you. |
Once you've created the DNS record, email us at support@cloudsprout.us.com to let us know you are ready for us to verify you control the domain.
HTML Page
Create a directory named "/.well-known/pki-validation/" in the highest-level directory of the website for the common name you're using. Usually, this is the website's root directory - for example, a directory named coolexample.com, the file's URL would be http://coolexample.com/.well-known/pki-validation/fileauth.txt.
If the SSL certificate is for the root domain, the HTML file must be findable at http://coolexample.com/.well-known/pki-validation/fileauth.txt. http://www.coolexample.com/.well-known/pki-validation/fileauth.txt will not work.
To Verify Your Domain Name Ownership
After you add a DNS record or HTML page, you need to let us know that you are ready for us to verify you control the domain. Email us at support@cloudsprout.us.com to let us know you are ready for us to verify you control the domain.
Next steps
If your SSL is going onto the primary name of a site hosted with Cloud Sprout, we will automatically install the certificate for you.
If your server is elsewhere, download your SSL certificate.
