ACME: Difference between revisions

Raboof (talk | contribs)
DNS challenge: mention services.nginx.virtualHosts.<name>.acmeRoot should also be set to null for nginx.
Hexa (talk | contribs)
Formatting, Wording, Prune
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= Basics =
= Basics =


This process should generate three key files.  The naming and usage of
This process should generate three key files.  The naming and usage of the three key files is common to all programs and services in NixOS.
the three key files is common to all programs and services in NixOS.


We let <code>sslCertDir =
We let <code>sslCertDir = config.security.acme.certs.${domainName}.directory;</code> in the
config.security.acme.certs.${domainName}.directory;</code> in the
following paragraph.
following paragraph.


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* <code>sslServerKey = "/var/host.key";</code> Path to server SSL certificate key. Located at <code>"${sslCertDir}/key.pem"</code>.
* <code>sslServerKey = "/var/host.key";</code> Path to server SSL certificate key. Located at <code>"${sslCertDir}/key.pem"</code>.


Beginning in late 2024, user @ThinkChaos started working on unifying
The <code>useACMEHost</code> option can be used with a wide variety of services[https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=25.05&query=useACMEHost], which simplifies the configuration and enables the automatic checking of correct private and public key permissions during nixos-rebuild.
modules options to use the same interface for specifying certificates.
 
Currently, in 2025-09, the <code>useACMEHost</code> option can be used
with a wide variety of services
[https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=25.05&query=useACMEHost],
which simplifies the configuration and enables the automatic checking
of correct private and public key permissions during nixos-rebuild.


= Obtaining a new certificate =
= Obtaining a new certificate =
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== Basics ==
== Basics ==


You need to agree to the Terms of Service, provide an email address,
You need to agree to the Terms of Service, provide an email address, provide a domain name, and, if any, extra domain names.
provide a domain name, and, if any, extra domain names.


DNS challenge supports obtaining certificates for wildcard domains,
DNS challenge supports obtaining certificates for wildcard domains, such as <code>*.example.org</code>.
such as <code>*.example.org</code>.


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
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</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>
== DNS challenge ==
== DNS challenge ==
If you want to use the DNS challenge with nginx, you should also set [https://search.nixos.org/options?show=services.nginx.virtualHosts.%3Cname%3E.acmeRoot service.nginx.virtualHosts.<name>.acmeRoot] to <code>null</code>.
If you want to use the DNS challenge with nginx, you should also set [https://search.nixos.org/options?show=services.nginx.virtualHosts.%3Cname%3E.acmeRoot service.nginx.virtualHosts.<name>.acmeRoot] to <code>null</code>.
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</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>


Certificates are getting generated for the domain
Certificates are getting generated for the domain <code>mx1.example.org</code> using the DNS provider <code>inwx</code>. See [https://go-acme.github.io/lego/dns<nowiki> upstream documentation] on available providers and their specific configuration for the </nowiki><code>credentialsFile</code> option.
<code>mx1.example.org</code> using the DNS provider
<code>inwx</code>. See [https://go-acme.github.io/lego/dns upstream
documentation] on available providers and their specific configuration
for the <code>credentialsFile</code> option.


=== With Cloudflare as DNS provider ===
=== With Cloudflare as DNS provider ===
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== Setting file permission with postRun ==
== Setting file permission with postRun ==


Use the <code>security.acme.certs.*.postRun</code> to set permissions
Use the <code>security.acme.certs.*.postRun</code> to set permissions on the key directory and the key files:
on the key directory and the key files:


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
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Many service modules support obtaining certificates.  But if you were
Many service modules support obtaining certificates.  But if you were
to configure certificate options separately for each service module,
to configure certificate options separately for each service module, it would be time-consuming and risks hitting the certificate renewal
it would be time consuming and risks hitting the certificate renewal
limits of the service provider.
limits of the service provider.


Instead, centrally manage certificate options within the security.acme
Instead, centrally manage certificate options within the security.acme module; then point other services to security.acme with
module; then point other services to security.acme with
<code>useACMEHost</code> option.
<code>useACMEHost</code> option.


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services.nginx.virtualHosts."site2.example.org".useACMEHost = "example.org";
services.nginx.virtualHosts."site2.example.org".useACMEHost = "example.org";
</syntaxhighlight>
</syntaxhighlight>
= Using Let's Encrypt Staging =
= Using Let's Encrypt Staging =


If you'd like to use the Let's Encrypt [https://letsencrypt.org/docs/staging-environment/ staging environment], eg for its less stringent rate limits, set
For testing your Let's Encrypt configuration it makes sense to use their [https://letsencrypt.org/docs/staging-environment/ staging environment], because it offers less stringent rate limits.


<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">