Error: ssl_error_rx_record_too_long when trying to turn on SSL for Apache

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Environment

Apache

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11

Situation

Browser returning Error: ssl_error_rx_record_too_long when attempting to view website over https.

For example, load browser, in the address bar, enter the url as follows: https://<ip_or dns_name> , hit <enter>

Page displays: ssl_error_rx_record_too_long

Resolution

Often times this error is seen with Apache, when port 443 has been enabled (i.e. by adding a vhost-ssl.conf file), but SSL itself has NOT yet been loaded and enabled.

Open the /etc/sysconfig/apache2 file and look for the APACHE_MODULES= line, and make sure that ssl is in the list of modules (if ssl is not part of the list, go ahead and add it just before the closing quotes). Here's an example:

APACHE_MODULES="actions alias auth_basic authn_file authz_host authz_groupfile authz_default authz_user

authn_dbm autoindex cgi dir env expires include log_config mime negotiation setenvif ssl suexec userdir php5 jk proxy proxy_ajp"

Notice ssl in the line. (NOTE: the position here is NOT important)

Next look for the Line APACHE_SERVER_FLAGES = "" and make sure the value between the quotes is SSL as follows:

APACHE_SERVER_FLAGS="SSL"

Save the changes and run rcapache2 restart.

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