Connecting to my domain via Filezilla. Entered hostname, specify port 21, username/password, etc. into server manager. Getting "Unknown certificate" message. "Hostname does not match certificate" What do I need to do to resolve the warning?

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anonymous
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Hi Tony! The error occurs because the security certificates on Shared Hosting plans that your Filezilla checks use the server name instead of your domain name. While the mismatch won't usually prevent you from using Filezilla if you accept/continue/ignore the warning, I know that unresolved warnings like that can be annoying.

To resolve the warning, you will need to find your server name in cPanel or AMP. Then, you'll use the server name for the hostname instead of your site's domain name. It will usually be something like biz###.inmotionhosting.com, with the numbers replaced with your site's actual server number. Hope that helps!

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anonymous
Quote from Tony Waisanen

Thanks. I replaced the domain hostname with the server name; ecbiz187.inmotionhosting.com.  The red message is gone. But I'm still getting a warning: "The server's certificate is unknown. Please carefully examine the certificate to make sure the server can be trusted.  Compare the displayed fingerprint with the certificate fingerprint you have received from your server administrator or server hosting provider."  

I don't have the option to copy the text so I'm considering presuming the connection is correct, and not to a back room in some bar in China.

Or is there something else I can do?

It sounds like you're set now if the red warning is gone. The remaining warning usually stops popping up after you've accepted the certificate the first time-- you still get warnings like that on new servers just because you've never logged into it before. 

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Tony Waisanen

Thanks. I replaced the domain hostname with the server name; ecbiz187.inmotionhosting.com.  The red message is gone. But I'm still getting a warning: "The server's certificate is unknown. Please carefully examine the certificate to make sure the server can be trusted.  Compare the displayed fingerprint with the certificate fingerprint you have received from your server administrator or server hosting provider."  

I don't have the option to copy the text so I'm considering presuming the connection is correct, and not to a back room in some bar in China.

Or is there something else I can do?

Avatar
anonymous
  • Answer
  • Answered

Hi Tony! The error occurs because the security certificates on Shared Hosting plans that your Filezilla checks use the server name instead of your domain name. While the mismatch won't usually prevent you from using Filezilla if you accept/continue/ignore the warning, I know that unresolved warnings like that can be annoying.

To resolve the warning, you will need to find your server name in cPanel or AMP. Then, you'll use the server name for the hostname instead of your site's domain name. It will usually be something like biz###.inmotionhosting.com, with the numbers replaced with your site's actual server number. Hope that helps!