If I wanted to offer my customers a shared SSL certificate would I have to buy a certificate for each server? Why couldn't I install the same certificate on each server?

I'm curious as to how some hosts offer https://securewebpage.com/ to their customers, wouldn't they be required to purchase a new certificate with each server using a different domain?

Thanks in advance.

would I have to buy a certificate for each server?

If you plan on having multiple secure sites, yes, you need a certificate per server.

Why couldn't I install the same certificate on each server?

You'd have a hard time making https://secure.yoursite.com go to 2 different servers at the same time.

I'm curious as to how some hosts offer https://securewebpage.com/ to their customers

Many hosts have a simple shopping cart, formmailer or other payment script that they let their clients use. This script resides on one server, normally their main/order server which has an ssl certificate.

I've seen many hosts offering access to their secure cert but on https://secure1.them.com. With ssl certs a mere 50-150 bucks it's hardly a big cost once you figure that you will only need 1 until you fill your first server and therefore have the money to buy more.

Very well explained.

Thanks.