unsure what to do with SSL

Hello all,

I signed up for hosting service w/ SSL today. I'm in the process of installing it and ran into an area where i'm unsure what to do.

SSL
If you are installing onto a live webserver where you intend to process real transactions, you should plan on securing your customers' transaction data with SSL. If you don't already have an SSL certificate, talk to your hosting company about your available options. You will need to enter your SSL details below. In most cases they will be correct, unless you're using a "shared SSL" service. Your hosting company can give you the correct URL.
If you are installing to a local PC or to a development server where you do not need to protect sensitive data, you can leave the SSL settings at their defaults, and when asked about enabling SSL later in the installation process, just leave it off if you're not on a live production server.
The Virtual HTTPS Server (the secure URL to your domain)
Example: https://www.mydomain.com
Note: if you have a shared certificate on a virtual server this may look like:
https://mydomain.secureservername.net/

• or - https://secure.sharedservername.net/~username

The Virtual HTTPS Path (the secure URL to your domain and directory for your shop)
Example: https://www.mydomain.com/catalog

• or - https://secure.sharedservername.net/~username/catalog

Can someone guide me through this?

Do you know what type of SSL certificate you purchased and if it has been properly installed on your server yet?

Once it is, you can 'enable' SSL during the ZenCart installation process and keep/change the 'https' paths if needed by your host.

i'm in the process of getting it activated right now. i purchased the $9 comodo one from namecheap

I typically install the cart first then go back and enable the SSL once I'm happy with the ZenCart install. If the SSL certificate is not installed/working correctly you're bound to run into problems the first time the site attempts to go to an https address.

ok, so you can add it after installation?

sahmjay:

ok, so you can add it after installation?

Indeed. :)

so i finished the installation. my site isn't loading.. it shows up as a blank page. followed the directions, not sure where i went wrong

Are there any messages when you view the source code?

Check for errors in the /logs folder via FTP?

gonna delete and reinstall it. the second time i tried last night without the SSl, it worked. then i changed the config files & admin directory and then it got really funky. all the styles disappeared only text.

Sounds like the configure.php was missing a path to the CSS file. Reload your configure.php files from backup so you don't have to reinstall yes?

too late.. reinstalled. i'm running 1.5.1 so i'm skipping to instruction step b.

so i got the cart setup and working.. where can i go to edit the SSL?

Read this:
http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?332-do-I-need-SSL-on-my-store-website

Then this:
http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?56-how-do-i-enable-ssl

And peek at this for the off switch:
http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?57-how-do-i-disable-ssl

Be sure to backup your files before making changes.

alright, i've edited the configure files and it still shows http://. i've purposely typed in https://.. checked and confirmed with the host that the ssl is activated. kinda lost at words right now.

its been fixed..

What was the solution?

had to edit .htaccess