How to Secure Your HelioHost Website with Cloudflare (Free SSL & Protection)

[alkastraverse]

Hi everyone,

 

I just recently set up a site on HelioHost (Tommy server) and wanted to share how I enabled HTTPS and basic protection using Cloudflare. This is useful especially since HelioHost doesn’t offer automatic SSL for custom domains out of the box.

 

 

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Steps:

 

1. Add your domain to Cloudflare

 

Go to https://dash.cloudflare.com

 

Click Add a Site, choose the Free plan

 

Cloudflare will scan your DNS records

 

At the end, you will get two nameservers to replace your current ones

 

Go to your domain registrar and update your nameservers accordingly

(Wait some time for the DNS to propagate, up to 24h)

 

 

 

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2. Point your domain to your HelioHost server (Tommy)

After the domain is active in Cloudflare:

 

Go to the DNS tab in Cloudflare

 

Add a record like:

 

 

Type: A  

Name: forum (or your subdomain)  

IPv4 address: <your_hosting_ip> 

Proxy status: Proxied (orange cloud)

 

(If you use the root domain, set Name: @)

 

 

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3. Enable SSL and force HTTPS

In Cloudflare:

 

Go to SSL/TLS > Overview

 

Choose "Full" or "Full (strict)" if you have a Let’s Encrypt cert on the server

 

Otherwise, use “Flexible” (not ideal but works)

 

 

Go to SSL/TLS > Edge Certificates

 

Enable Always Use HTTPS

 

Enable Automatic HTTPS Rewrites

 

 

 

 

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Notes:

 

Make sure your web host supports SSL if you use "Full (strict)"

 

You can still access your files and settings via HelioHost control panel (e.g. Plesk)

 

 

 

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Let me know if you have any questions. I’m still new to this but happy to help where I can!

[alkastraverse]

Looks like this board is a bit quiet recently. Just sharing in case someone finds it useful later.🗣️