Using Let’s Encrypt with Nginx on Ubuntu to Enable HTTPS on Manually-Administered Websites

Abstract

Securing websites with HTTPS has become a critical standard for privacy, trust, and search engine optimization. Let’s Encrypt, a free and automated certificate authority, simplifies this process. This article outlines a step-by-step guide to enable HTTPS using Let’s Encrypt certificates on manually-administrated websites with Nginx on Ubuntu.

Introduction

In today’s digital landscape, securing your website with HTTPS is no longer optional. Visitors expect a secure browsing experience, and search engines reward secure websites with better rankings. If you’re manually managing your website and using Nginx on Ubuntu, enabling HTTPS can seem daunting. Fortunately, Let’s Encrypt provides an accessible and cost-free solution to obtain and manage SSL/TLS certificates.

This guide walks you through setting up HTTPS on your website using Let’s Encrypt. You’ll learn how to install the Certbot tool, obtain a certificate, and configure Nginx to serve your site securely.

What is Let’s Encrypt?

Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority (CA) that simplifies the process of securing websites with SSL/TLS certificates. These certificates encrypt communication between the user’s browser and the web server, safeguarding sensitive data like passwords and personal information.

Using Let’s Encrypt also brings several benefits:

• Cost-effectiveness: Completely free certificates.
• Automation: Certbot, the official client, automates the issuance and renewal of certificates.
• Trustworthy: Supported by all modern browsers.

Prerequisites

Before diving in, ensure you have the following:

1. A domain name: Registered and pointed to your server’s IP address.
2. Nginx installed: Ensure you have Nginx running and properly configured to serve your website.
3. Ubuntu server: This guide assumes you’re using Ubuntu 20.04 or later.
4. Sudo privileges: Administrative access to install and manage software on your server.

Step 1: Install Certbot and Nginx Plugin

Certbot is the official Let’s Encrypt client that handles certificate issuance and renewal. To install Certbot and its Nginx plugin, follow these steps:

1. Update your system’s package list:

sudo apt update

2. Install Certbot and the Nginx plugin:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Step 2: Obtain an SSL/TLS Certificate

With Certbot installed, the next step is to request a certificate for your domain:

1. Run Certbot for Nginx:

sudo certbot --nginx

2. Follow the on-screen prompts:
   • Enter your email address for notifications.
   • Agree to the Let’s Encrypt terms of service.
   • Specify the domain(s) for which you need the certificate.

Certbot will automatically configure Nginx to redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS and reload the server configuration.

Step 3: Test the HTTPS Setup

Once Certbot has completed, test your site to ensure HTTPS is working:

1. Open your browser and visit your website using https://yourdomain.com.
2. Use an online tool like SSL Labs to verify the certificate installation and check for potential vulnerabilities.

Step 4: Automate Certificate Renewal

Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days. Certbot includes a renewal system to keep your certificates up-to-date automatically.

1. Test the renewal process:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

2. Ensure the renewal process runs regularly by confirming the presence of a Cron job or systemd timer:

sudo systemctl list-timers | grep certbot

Troubleshooting Tips

Even with the best preparation, you might encounter issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

1. Port Conflicts: Ensure that ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS) are open and not blocked by a firewall.

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

2. Incorrect DNS Settings: Verify that your domain’s DNS records point to the correct server IP address.
3. Configuration Errors: Check your Nginx configuration for syntax errors using:

sudo nginx -t

Advanced Configuration

For more control over your HTTPS setup, you can customize the Nginx configuration:

1. Enforce HTTPS:

# Ensure all HTTP traffic is redirected to HTTPS. 
server { 
        listen 80; server_name yourdomain.com; 
        return 301 https://$host$request_uri; 
}

2. Enhanced Security Headers:

 # Improve security by adding HTTP headers: 
 add_header X-Content-Type-Options nosniff; 
 add_header X-Frame-Options DENY; 
 add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block";

Conclusion

Enabling HTTPS with Let’s Encrypt on manually-managed websites is an essential step in ensuring user trust and data security. By following this guide, you’ve learned how to:

• Install Certbot and request an SSL/TLS certificate.
• Configure Nginx to serve your site securely.
• Automate the certificate renewal process.

In closing, securing your website not only protects your users but also demonstrates your commitment to a safer internet. Start today by enabling HTTPS on your site with Let’s Encrypt and Nginx.

FAQs

Q: What happens if my Let’s Encrypt certificate expires?
A: Expired certificates cause browsers to show security warnings. Automating renewal ensures uninterrupted service.

Q: Can I use Let’s Encrypt for wildcard domains?
A: Yes, but wildcard certificates require DNS-based validation, which isn’t covered in this guide.

Q: Is Let’s Encrypt suitable for production websites?
A: Absolutely. Many production websites, from personal blogs to enterprise platforms, use Let’s Encrypt.

a. Would you like to include a sample Nginx configuration file?
b. Should we add more advanced topics, like DNS-based wildcard certificates?