Reference

1. Http server check

    telnet www.somesite 80
    GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
    Host: www.somesite
   

(Note you need to press enter twice at the end)

2. Https server check

    openssl s_client -connect www.somesite:443
    [watch the ssl certificate details scroll by]
    GET /index.html HTTP/1.1
    Host: www.somesite
   

   (again you need to press enter twice)

3. Generatign self signed cert

    openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout server.pem -out server.pem -days XXX -nodes