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Asked: 2024-09-25T16:03:06+05:30 In:

How can I install Certbot on Ubuntu 20.04?

I’ve been diving into web development lately, and I’m trying to set up SSL certificates for my site. I’ve heard that Certbot is one of the best tools to automate this process, especially on Ubuntu 20.04, but I’m running into some confusion while trying to install it.

First off, I’m a bit of a newbie when it comes to command-line stuff, so I’m hoping for an easy-to-follow guide. I know I need to run some commands in the terminal, but I’ve seen different instructions floating around online, and I’m worried about messing things up. It seems like every source has a slightly different approach, and I just want to make sure I’m doing it right.

From what I gather, it starts with adding some repositories or something? But then there’s also mention of using Snap, which I’m not entirely familiar with. Do I need to install Snap first, or is it included with Ubuntu 20.04? I’ve heard that Snap can handle a lot of the installation for you, but I’ve tried to use it before and felt a bit lost. Should I go that route or stick with the traditional apt-get method?

Next, once I do get Certbot installed, I’ve read that I need to actually run commands to obtain the certificate. What’s the process like? Is there something specific I need to prepare in advance, like making sure my domain is pointed correctly or my server is configured in a certain way? The last thing I want is to end up with an expired certificate two months down the line because I forgot a step.

Also, after I obtain the certificate, what’s the deal with renewing it? I understand Certbot can automate this, but how do I set that up? Any tips for troubleshooting if things don’t go as planned would also be super helpful.

I really appreciate any guidance from those of you who have been through this process. I could use all the help I can get to get my SSL sorted out without too much headache!

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    2 Answers






    1. Getting Started with Certbot on Ubuntu 20.04

      Setting Up SSL with Certbot on Ubuntu 20.04

      If you’re new to command-line and all this stuff, don’t worry! I got you covered with a step-by-step guide to getting Certbot up and running.

      Step 1: Installing Certbot

      First things first, you need to install Certbot. You can choose to do this with Snap or the traditional apt-get. Ubuntu 20.04 comes with Snap pre-installed, so you don’t need to worry about installing that first. If you want to go the Snap route, just open your terminal and run:

      sudo snap install --classic certbot

      Alternatively, if you’re more comfortable with apt, you can do this:

      sudo apt update
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx

      (You’ll need the second command only if you’re using Nginx.)

      Step 2: Obtaining Your SSL Certificate

      Before you run any commands to get your SSL certificate, make sure your domain name is pointing to your server’s IP address. You’ll also want to ensure your firewall allows traffic on port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS).

      To get your certificate, run:

      sudo certbot --nginx

      or, if you’re using Apache:

      sudo certbot --apache

      Follow the prompts, and it should take care of things for you. It checks if everything is configured correctly.

      Step 3: Automatic Renewal

      Once your certificate is in place, you don’t want to worry about renewing it manually every couple of months. Certbot can auto-renew your certificates. It usually sets this up automatically, but to check if it’s working, you can run:

      sudo systemctl status certbot.timer

      This command will show you if the timer is active. Certbot tries to renew the certificate every 60 days.

      Troubleshooting Tips

      • If you run into issues, check your server’s firewall settings.
      • Look for detailed error messages in your terminal output.
      • Visit the official Certbot documentation for troubleshooting guidance.

      That’s pretty much it! Follow these steps, and you should have SSL sorted out in no time. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it!




    2. Setting Up SSL Certificates with Certbot on Ubuntu 20.04

      To install Certbot on Ubuntu 20.04, you can use either the Snap package manager or the traditional apt-get method. Snap comes pre-installed with Ubuntu 20.04, so you don’t need to install it separately. Using Snap is recommended because it’s the latest version and ensures automatic updates. To install Certbot via Snap, open your terminal and run the following commands:

              sudo snap install --classic certbot
        sudo ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot

      After Certbot is installed, you will need to run commands to obtain your SSL certificate. Ensure your domain is pointing to your server’s IP address and that your firewall allows traffic on port 80 and 443. If everything is in order, you can issue the certificate by executing the following command:

              sudo certbot --apache

      This command assumes you’re using the Apache web server; if you use Nginx, replace `–apache` with `–nginx`. Certbot will take you through the process of obtaining and installing the certificates. To automate renewals, Certbot sets up a cron job during the install process. You can confirm this by running:

              sudo certbot renew --dry-run

      This command tests the renewal process without making any changes. If you encounter issues, check the Certbot logs located at `/var/log/letsencrypt/` for troubleshooting.


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