Frequently Asked Questions

Renewing Your SSL Certificate: Server Instructions

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Last Updated: July 15, 2015 3:22 PM

To renew an expiring Starfield® SSL certificate, you must purchase a certificate-renewal credit from Starfield®; then log in to your SSL account and follow the provided instructions for requesting a certificate renewal.

Follow the instructions below to download and install renewed SSL certificate and our intermediate certificates on your Web server.

Please click on the applicable server type for complete installation instructions for renewed SSL certificates.

Web Server List



cPanel IIS 5.x
Apache 1.3 / 2.x IIS 6.x
Tomcat 4.x/5.x/6.x IIS 7
Parallels Plesk Panel  

If the Web server software you are using is not listed, contact your server software vendor for installation instructions.

Depending on your choice of Web server software, you may or may not need to generate a new Certificate Signing Request (CSR) for the renewed certificate. If you are using Linux-based server software, you may use your existing CSR for the certificate renewal (you can also generate and submit a new one, if so desired). If you are running Microsoft IIS 4.x, 5.x, or 6.x on your Web server; it is strongly recommended that you generate and submit a new CSR before attempting to renew your SSL certificate.

Make sure the CSR you generate has a 2048 bit key length.

NOTE: If any of the information in your CSR (including company name or address information) has changed, you must generate and submit a new CSR before your certificate can be renewed).

Once your SSL certificate has been signed and issued, we will send you an email to download the signed certificate and our two intermediate certificates, all of which must be installed on your website.

Concerning Renewals and Authentication

If more than 13 months have elapsed since the last time we authenticated you or your company as part of the certificate-issuance process, you must submit your personal/company information again as we need to authenticate the information again before a renewed certificate can be issued. If you or your company were successfully authenticated less than 13 months ago, we do not need to re-verify your information to renew your certificate.