What is ACME?
ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment) is a protocol that automates certificate issuance, validation, renewal, and replacement.
Is an ACME certificate different from a traditional SSL certificate?
The SSL/TLS certificate itself provides the same encryption and browser trust. The primary difference is that ACME automates certificate management.
Do I need a CSR?
In most cases, no. Many ACME clients generate and manage key material automatically.
Does ACME support wildcard certificates?
Yes.
Wildcard certificates are supported when using DNS-01 validation.
Can I use Cloudflare?
Yes.
Customers using Cloudflare can typically automate DNS-based validation using integrations supported by their ACME client.
Can I use Webnames DNS Hosting?
Yes.
Webnames DNS Hosting supports automated DNS-based validation scenarios when used in conjunction with either the simple-acme or Certbot ACME clients.
Can I use Webnames Plesk Hosting?
Yes.
If your website is already hosted by us, Plesk Hosting includes built-in ACME functionality and is generally the simplest deployment model.
Can I continue using traditional SSL certificates?
Yes.
Traditional SSL certificates remain available. ACME-enabled SSL subscriptions are an additional option for customers who want automated certificate management.
What information do I need to configure my ACME client?
You will need:
ACME Directory URL
EAB Key ID
EAB HMAC Key
These values are available after purchasing an ACME-enabled SSL subscription.
What should I do if certificate issuance fails?
Verify:
Your ACME credentials
Your validation method
Your DNS configuration
DNS propagation status
If the problem persists, contact Webnames Technical Support.