§2024-11-04
The ACME (Automatic Certificate Management Environment) protocol is designed to automate the process of obtaining and renewing SSL/TLS certificates from a Certificate Authority (CA). It simplifies the management of digital certificates, making it easier for website owners to secure their sites with HTTPS.
¶Key Features of ACME:
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Automation: ACME allows for automated certificate issuance, renewal, and management, reducing the need for manual intervention.
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Challenge-Response Mechanism: To verify ownership of a domain, ACME uses a challenge-response mechanism. The CA issues a challenge that the client must respond to, typically by placing a specific file on the web server or creating a DNS record.
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Client and Server Communication: ACME defines how clients (like Certbot) interact with the CA. The protocol uses HTTPS for secure communication and follows a RESTful API design.
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Certificate Lifespan: ACME encourages short-lived certificates (often valid for 90 days), promoting automation for renewals to ensure continuous security.
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Standardization: ACME provides a standardized way for different clients and CAs to interact, fostering interoperability.