Installing the Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate on Your NGINX Server

 

Using the Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate on your NGINX server provides an extra layer of security. The shorter certificate validity period encourages you to update cryptographic keys on a regular basis, which can prevent your website from becoming vulnerable to new threats. The certificate encrypts traffic from the origin server to Cloudflare, and reduces bandwidth usage at the origin. To install this certificate, follow the instructions in the following article.

First, download the Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate and its private key file. These two files are stored on your server in a folder named /etc/ssl/certs. Be sure to save both files to your server before proceeding. After the installation, you need to update your NGINX configuration to use the Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate. After completing the installation, you can now test the Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate on your NGINX server.

To install Cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate NGINX on your NGINX server, you must first sign up for Cloudflare services. If you haven't already done so, click here to create a free account. Once you've signed up, navigate to the SSL/TLS menu and click on Origin server. Next, click on Create a certificate and select the Type of Key you want to use. You can also select Cloudflare to generate the key.

Setting up Cloudflare on your NGINX server is relatively simple. However, it can be difficult for inexperienced users. There's a possibility that Cloudflare leaks the IP address of your origin server, exposing your website's IP address to anyone who visits your site. So you'll want to ensure that your server is configured properly to prevent this from happening. The article does not cover every possible configuration you can make to secure your NGINX server.

Once you've setup Cloudflare, you'll want to enable all of the following features: Always use HTTPS, Authenticated Origin Pulls, Opportunistic Encryption, Automatic HTTPS Rewrites, and Authenticated Origin Pulls. Once you've configured all of these settings, simply copy and paste the below code into your NGINX configuration file. Remember to reference the cloudflare certificate files in your code.

For Linux users, Cloudflare is also available as a CLI. You can also use the Cloudflare API calls to manage your cloudflare Origin SSL Certificate. But you should be aware that Cloudflare's IP range varies frequently. So if you're running on Linux, you can use Cloudflare CLI to manage your SSL certificate. But it is crucial to remember that it is important to update your Cloudflare certificate to avoid security problems.