If you’ve ever managed a WordPress site with Cloudflare integration on an Apache server, you might have encountered the dreaded “too many redirects” error. This error can be perplexing, especially when you’ve set up everything according to best practices. Let’s delve into this issue and find a solution.
Understanding the Problem
The “too many redirects” error, technically known as a 310 error, occurs when a website keeps redirecting between different addresses in an endless loop. With WordPress, Cloudflare, and Apache combined, this can often happen due to misconfigured settings related to SSL certificates.
Cloudflare offers its own SSL certificates to secure the connection between visitors and Cloudflare. However, the connection between Cloudflare and your server (the origin server) also needs to be secure. If it’s not, it can lead to this loop of redirects.
The Importance of Server-side SSL
While Cloudflare’s SSL secures the front-end connection, the back-end connection between Cloudflare and your server remains vulnerable if there’s no SSL certificate installed on your server. Some might think that having Cloudflare’s SSL is enough, but in reality, it’s only half the equation.
Without a server-side SSL certificate, the server might try to redirect traffic to the HTTPS version of the site, while Cloudflare tries to redirect it back to the HTTP version, causing the loop.
The Solution: Let’s Encrypt
The good news is that there’s a straightforward solution: installing an SSL certificate on your server. And it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Let’s Encrypt offers free SSL certificates that are recognized and trusted globally.
By installing a Let’s Encrypt certificate on your server, you ensure the connection between Cloudflare and your server is encrypted. This stops the endless redirects, as both ends of the connection recognize and trust the security protocols in place.
Conclusion
In the digital landscape, security is paramount. While Cloudflare’s SSL is a fantastic tool for protecting your site’s visitors, it’s essential to remember the server-side of things. To truly safeguard your website and avoid issues like the “too many redirects” error, ensure you have an SSL certificate installed on your server. With free and reliable options like Let’s Encrypt available, there’s no reason not to take this crucial step in your website’s security journey.