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Domain forwarding with HTTP and HTTPS

The most crucial difference between Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is that HTTPS uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt connections between web browsers and servers. Using HTTPS on your site can also lead to other advantages, such as improved SEO and website performance.

Difference between HTTP and HTTPS

HTTP is the protocol that enables the communication between different systems, transferring information and data over a network. It is an application layer protocol that web browsers and servers use to communicate using the internet.

When a web user wants a web page, their web browser sends an HTTP request to the origin server that hosts the website's files. These requests are lines of text shipped using the internet, establishing a connection. Once the browser and server establish a relationship, the server processes the request and sends back an HTTP response.

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HTTPS is similar to HTTP but works to protect communication between web servers and browsers when transporting data. It secures connections with a digital security protocol that uses cryptographic keys to encrypt and validate data. The most common way for websites to use HTTPS and have a secure domain has an SSL or TLS certificate.

Although TLS is widely becoming the standard for HTTPS, most SSL certificates support SSL and TLS protocols.

Forwarding to HTTP websites with OpenSRS

Any domain under OpenSRS management can be forwarded to an HTTP domain using our forwarding service.

OpenSRS does not offer HTTPS forwarding due to our server's address using a shared IP for each domain that forwards. Additionally, each domain will need an SSL certificate installed for each forwarding address.

The only workaround to forward a domain using HTTPS would be using another web hosting company's nameservers that offer HTTPS forwarding.

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