Getting Started with AutoInstall SSL ACME

How to Access ACME Automation

Here is how to access ACME automation options within AutoInstall SSL.

• Option 1: Select ACME as your environment.
  

  You will be given ACME credentials that you can use with any ACME-compatible client of your choice. These credentials are available on the order page, in the ACME section.

• Option 2: Select your environment for step-by-step instructions.
  Alternatively, you can select your specific environment to get step-by-step instructions. Note that you may need to click Agent Options to reveal the ACME option.

How to Set Up ACME Automation

Step 1: Install the ACME Agent

Unless your hosting environment supports ACME natively (the Caddy web server, for example), you will need to install an ACME-compatible agent on your server. AutoInstall SSL will suggest a compatible agent for your environment, or you can choose and install any ACME-compatible agent of your preference.

Step 2: Issue and Install Your SSL Certificate

Each ACME client behaves slightly differently, but in general you will need to run one or more commands to:

• Register your ACME agent with the Certificate Authority's server, using the provided ACME EAB (External Account Binding) credentials
• Request a certificate and complete validation, using either file or DNS validation
• Install the certificate in the desired location, such as on your web server

AutoInstall SSL provides pre-built commands for several popular environments, with your credentials already pre-populated in the commands.

Important Note About Validation Methods

In most cases, file validation is the easiest and best option to use. For Wildcard certificates, you will need to use DNS validation. This requires:

• A DNS provider that supports API access
• An ACME agent with a connector or plugin for your DNS provider