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Xampp installation

XAMPP Apache SSL Certificate Installation Manual for Windows Server

Table of Contents

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Certificate Preparation
  3. XAMPP Configuration
  4. Virtual Host Setup
  5. Testing and Verification
  6. Troubleshooting

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • XAMPP installed on Windows Server
  • Administrative privileges on the server
  • SSL certificate files (.crt, .key, and optionally .ca-bundle or intermediate certificates)
  • Domain name pointing to your server's IP address

Certificate Preparation

Step 1: Organize Certificate Files

Create a dedicated folder for your SSL certificates:

C:\xampp\apache\conf\ssl\

Place your certificate files in this directory:

  • your-domain.crt (SSL certificate)
  • your-domain.key (Private key)
  • intermediate.crt (Intermediate/Chain certificate - if provided)

Step 2: Verify Certificate Files

Ensure your certificate files are in the correct format:

  • Certificate file: Should start with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
  • Private key: Should start with -----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY----- or -----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----

XAMPP Configuration

Step 3: Enable SSL Module

  1. Open XAMPP Control Panel as Administrator
  2. Stop Apache if it's running
  3. Navigate to C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf
  4. Find and uncomment (remove #) the following line: 
    Include conf/extra/httpd-ssl.conf
  5. Also ensure the SSL module is loaded by uncommenting: 
    LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so

Step 4: Configure SSL Settings

  1. Open C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-ssl.conf
  2. Locate the default SSL virtual host section (usually starts around line 104)
  3. Comment out or modify the default SSL virtual host to avoid conflicts

Virtual Host Setup

Step 5: Create Virtual Host Configuration

  1. Open C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-vhosts.conf

  2. Add your HTTP virtual host (port 80):

    <VirtualHost brspace.bankrakyat.com.my:80>
 ServerAdmin dev@dev.com
 DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs/brspace/www"
 ServerName brspace.bankrakyat.com.my
 ServerAlias brspace.bankrakyat.com.my
 ErrorLog "logs/brspace.local-error.log"
 CustomLog "logs/brspace.local-access.log" common
 DirectoryIndex index.php

 RewriteEngine On
 RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
 RewriteRule ^ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI}


 <Directory "C:/xampp/htdocs/htdocs/brspace/www">
     AllowOverride all
     Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
     Require all granted
 </Directory>
 </VirtualHost>

  3. Add your HTTPS virtual host (port 443):

     <VirtualHost brspace.bankrakyat.com.my:443>
 ServerAdmin dev@dev.com
 DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs/brspace/www"
 ServerName brspace.bankrakyat.com.my
 ServerAlias brspace.bankrakyat.com.my
 ErrorLog "logs/brspacessl.local-error.log"
 CustomLog "logs/brspacessl.local-access.log" common
 DirectoryIndex index.php

 <Directory "C:/xampp/htdocs/htdocs/brspace/www">
     AllowOverride all
     Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
     Require all granted
 </Directory>

 # SSL Engine Switch:
 SSLEngine on
 SSLCertificateFile C:\xampp\apache\conf\ssl\bundle.brspace.bankrakyat.com.my.crt
 SSLCertificateKeyFile C:\xampp\apache\conf\ssl\new.brspace.bankrakyat.com.my.key

 </VirtualHost>

Step 6: Enable Virtual Hosts

  1. Open C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf
  2. Find and uncomment: 
    Include conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf

Step 7: Enable Rewrite Module (for HTTP to HTTPS redirect)

In C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf, uncomment:

LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so

Testing and Verification

Step 8: Test Configuration

  1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  2. Navigate to C:\xampp\apache\bin\
  3. Test Apache configuration: 
    httpd.exe -t
    You should see "Syntax OK"

Step 9: Restart Apache

  1. In XAMPP Control Panel, start Apache
  2. Check for any error messages in the control panel

Step 10: Verify SSL Certificate

  1. Open your browser and navigate to https://brspace.bankrakyat.com.my
  2. Check that:
    • The site loads without SSL warnings
    • The padlock icon appears in the address bar
    • HTTP automatically redirects to HTTPS

Step 11: Online SSL Testing

Use online tools to verify your SSL installation:

  • SSL Labs SSL Test: https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/
  • SSL Checker: Various online SSL checker tools

Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue 1: "Cannot load SSL certificate"

Solution:

  • Verify file paths in virtual host configuration
  • Ensure certificate files have proper permissions
  • Check that certificate files are not corrupted

Issue 2: "SSL handshake failed"

Solution:

  • Verify that port 443 is open in Windows Firewall
  • Check that no other service is using port 443
  • Ensure SSL module is properly loaded

Issue 3: "Certificate chain incomplete"

Solution:

  • Add intermediate certificate using SSLCertificateChainFile
  • Ensure intermediate certificate is in the correct order

Issue 4: Mixed content warnings

Solution:

  • Update all internal links to use HTTPS
  • Check for hardcoded HTTP resources in your website

Log File Locations

  • Apache Error Log: C:\xampp\apache\logs\error.log
  • Custom Error Logs: C:\xampp\apache\logs\your-domain-ssl-error.log
  • Custom Access Logs: C:\xampp\apache\logs\your-domain-ssl-access.log

Useful Commands

# Test Apache configuration
C:\xampp\apache\bin\httpd.exe -t

# View loaded modules
C:\xampp\apache\bin\httpd.exe -M

# Check SSL certificate details
openssl x509 -in your-domain.crt -text -noout

Security Best Practices

  1. Keep certificates secure: Store certificate files in a protected directory
  2. Regular updates: Keep XAMPP and Apache updated
  3. Strong SSL configuration: Use modern protocols and ciphers only
  4. HSTS headers: Implement HTTP Strict Transport Security
  5. Regular certificate renewal: Monitor certificate expiration dates
  6. Backup certificates: Keep secure backups of your certificate files

This manual provides a complete guide for setting up SSL certificates with virtual hosts on XAMPP Apache in a Windows Server environment. Follow each step carefully and test thoroughly before deploying to production.

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