1. make a self-signed SSL certificate using openssl $ apt-get install openssl $ openssl req -new -x509 -days 365 -nodes -out server.crt \ -keyout server.key or $ cd /etc/ssl/certs $ sudo make-ssl-cert /usr/share/ssl-cert/ssleay.cnf apache.pem 2. turn on SSL $ a2enmod ssl 4.change the file in add NameVIrtualHost web05:443 .. SSLEngine On SSLCertificateFile /etc/apache2/server.crt SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/apache2/server.key NameVirtualHost web05:80 NameVIrtualHost web05:443 <virtualhost:443> ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost DocumentRoot /var/www/web05 SSLEngine On SSLCertificateFile /etc/apache2/server.crt SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/apache2/server.key RailsBaseURI /ror </virtualhost> ref : debianclub