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Adding Sites to SSL Certificate Monitoring

This comprehensive guide covers how to add new sites to your SSL certificate monitoring system, ensuring you never miss a certificate expiration.

Quick Start

To add a new site for SSL certificate monitoring:

  1. Navigate to Sites: Go to the main dashboard and click "Add Site" or visit /app/sites/new
  2. Enter Site Details: Provide the full URL including protocol (e.g., https://example.com)
  3. Configure Monitoring: Set alert thresholds and notification preferences
  4. Test Connection: Verify the site is accessible and certificate can be checked
  5. Save and Monitor: Complete the setup to begin automatic monitoring

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Access the Add Site Form

From your dashboard, you can add a new site in several ways:

  • Click the "Add Site" button on the main dashboard
  • Navigate directly to /app/sites/new
  • Use the "+" icon in the sites navigation menu

Step 2: Site Configuration

Required Fields:

  • Site URL: Enter the complete URL including https:// protocol
  • Display Name: Choose a friendly name for easy identification

Optional Settings:

  • Check Interval: How often to verify the certificate (default: daily)
  • Alert Threshold: Days before expiration to trigger alerts (default: 30 days)
  • Custom Port: If using non-standard HTTPS port (default: 443)

Step 3: Validation and Testing

The system will automatically:

  • Validate the URL format
  • Test connectivity to the site
  • Retrieve and analyze the SSL certificate
  • Verify certificate chain and validity

Step 4: Alert Configuration

Configure how you want to be notified:

  • Email Alerts: Primary notification method
  • Alert Timing: When to send notifications (30, 14, 7, 1 days before expiration)
  • Escalation: Additional contacts for critical alerts

Best Practices

URL Format Guidelines

  • Always include the protocol: https://example.com
  • Use the exact domain that serves the certificate
  • Include subdomain if applicable: https://www.example.com
  • Specify port if non-standard: https://example.com:8443

Monitoring Recommendations

  • Set alert thresholds based on your renewal process timeline
  • Monitor both primary domain and important subdomains
  • Consider monitoring staging/development environments
  • Group related sites for easier management

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Connection Errors

  • DNS Resolution Failed: Verify the domain exists and is publicly accessible
  • Connection Timeout: Check if the site is behind a firewall or CDN
  • SSL Handshake Failed: Ensure the site has a valid SSL certificate

Certificate Issues

  • Self-Signed Certificate: System cannot monitor self-signed certificates
  • Expired Certificate: Site already has an expired certificate
  • Invalid Chain: Certificate chain is incomplete or invalid

Access Restrictions

  • IP Whitelist: Add monitoring service IP to your whitelist
  • Rate Limiting: Ensure monitoring requests aren't blocked
  • Geographic Restrictions: Verify site is accessible from monitoring location

Next Steps

After successfully adding a site:

  1. Verify Initial Check: Confirm the first certificate check completes successfully
  2. Test Alerts: Consider testing alert delivery with a shorter threshold
  3. Review Dashboard: Check that the site appears in your monitoring dashboard
  4. Set Up Additional Sites: Repeat the process for other domains

Related Articles

Need Help?

If you encounter issues adding sites: