# Adjusting SSL certificate retrieval (optional, advanced)

By default, this playbook retrieves and auto-renews free SSL certificates from [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) for the domains it needs (e.g. `matrix.example.com` and others)

This guide is about using the integrated Traefik server and doesn't apply if you're using [your own webserver](configuring-playbook-own-webserver.md).


## Using staging Let's Encrypt certificates instead of real ones

For testing purposes, you may wish to use staging certificates provide by Let's Encrypt.

Add the following configuration to your `inventory/host_vars/matrix.example.com/vars.yml` file:

```yaml
traefik_config_certificatesResolvers_acme_use_staging: true
```


## Disabling SSL termination

For testing or other purposes, you may wish to install services without SSL termination and have services exposed to `http://` instead of `https://`.

Add the following configuration to your `inventory/host_vars/matrix.example.com/vars.yml` file:

```yaml
traefik_config_entrypoint_web_secure_enabled: false
```


## Using self-signed SSL certificates

If you'd like to use your own SSL certificates, instead of the default (SSL certificates obtained automatically via [ACME](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Certificate_Management_Environment) from [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/)):

- generate your self-signed certificate files
- follow the [Using your own SSL certificates](#using-your-own-ssl-certificates) documentation below


## Using your own SSL certificates

To use your own SSL certificates with Traefik, you need to:

- disable [ACME](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Certificate_Management_Environment) / [Let's Encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) support
- put a custom Traefik configuration file on the server, with the help of this Ansible playbook (via the [`aux` role](https://github.com/mother-of-all-self-hosting/ansible-role-aux)) or manually
- register your custom configuration file with Traefik, by adding an extra provider of type [file](https://doc.traefik.io/traefik/providers/file/)
- put the SSL files on the server, with the help of this Ansible playbook (via the [`aux` role](https://github.com/mother-of-all-self-hosting/ansible-role-aux)) or manually

```yaml
# Disable ACME / Let's Encrypt support.
traefik_config_certificatesResolvers_acme_enabled: false

# Disabling ACME support (above) automatically disables the creation of the SSL directory.
# Force-enable it here, because we'll add our certificate files there.
traefik_ssl_dir_enabled: true

# Tell Traefik to load our custom ssl key pair by extending provider configuration.
# The key pair files are created below, in `aux_file_definitions`.
# The `/ssl/..` path is an in-container path, not a path on the host (like `/matrix/traefik/ssl`). Do not change it!
traefik_provider_configuration_extension_yaml:
  tls:
    certificates:
      - certFile: /ssl/cert.pem
        keyFile: /ssl/privkey.pem
    stores:
      default:
        defaultCertificate:
          certFile: /ssl/cert.pem
          keyFile: /ssl/privkey.pem

# Use the aux role to create our custom files on the server.
# If you'd like to do this manually, you remove this `aux_file_definitions` variable.
aux_file_definitions:
  # Create the privkey.pem file on the server by
  # uploading a file from the computer where Ansible is running.
  - dest: "{{ traefik_ssl_dir_path }}/privkey.pem"
    src: /path/on/your/Ansible/computer/to/privkey.pem
    # Alternatively, comment out `src` above and uncomment the lines below to provide the certificate content inline.
    # Note the indentation level.
    # content: |
    #   FILE CONTENT
    #   HERE

  # Create the cert.pem file on the server
  # uploading a file from the computer where Ansible is running.
  - dest: "{{ traefik_ssl_dir_path }}/cert.pem"
    src: /path/on/your/Ansible/computer/to/cert.pem
    # Alternatively, comment out `src` above and uncomment the lines below to provide the certificate content inline.
    # Note the indentation level.
    # content: |
    #   FILE CONTENT
    #   HERE
```

## Using a DNS-01 ACME challenge type, instead of HTTP-01

You can configure Traefik to use the [DNS-01 challenge type](https://letsencrypt.org/docs/challenge-types/#dns-01-challenge) for Let's Encrypt. This is less commonly used than the default [HTTP-01 challenge type](https://letsencrypt.org/docs/challenge-types/#http-01-challenge), but it can be helpful to:

- hide your public IP from Let's Encrypt logs
- allow you to obtain SSL certificates for servers which are not accessible (via HTTP) from the public internet (and for which the HTTP-01 challenge would fail)

This is an example for how to edit the `vars.yml` file if you're using Cloudflare:

```yaml
traefik_config_certificatesResolvers_acme_dnsChallenge_enabled: true
traefik_config_certificatesResolvers_acme_dnsChallenge_provider: "cloudflare"
traefik_config_certificatesResolvers_acme_dnsChallenge_delayBeforeCheck: 60
traefik_config_certificatesResolvers_acme_dnsChallenge_resolvers:
  - "1.1.1.1:53"
traefik_environment_variables_additional_variables: |
  CF_API_EMAIL=redacted
  CF_ZONE_API_TOKEN=redacted
  CF_DNS_API_TOKEN=redacted
  LEGO_DISABLE_CNAME_SUPPORT=true
```

Make sure to change the value of "provider" to your particular DNS solution, and provide the appropriate environment variables. The full list of supported providers is available [here](https://doc.traefik.io/traefik/https/acme/#providers).

This example assumes you're using Cloudflare to manage your DNS zone. Note that it requires the use of two tokens: one for reading all zones (`CF_ZONE_API_TOKEN`) and another that must be able to edit the particular domain you're using (`CF_DNS_API_TOKEN`). For security, it's recommended that you create two fine-grained tokens for this purpose, but you might choose to use the same token for both.