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Setting up SSO with an external OpenID authentication server

This document describes the operation and configuration of BlueMind with an external OpenID authentication server.

Prerequisites​

  • Have an OpenID server up and running
  • Have authorized the BlueMind authentication client with the OpenID server.
See, for example: Configuring an OpenID client for BlueMind with a third-party Keycloak

After configuration, note the following information, which will be used to configure BlueMind:

  • third-party OpenID server URL
  • OpenId client identifier (sometimes called Application ID)
  • **OpenId customer secret

How OpenID authentication works​

For initial authentication :

  1. The user tries to connect to BlueMind, which he opens in his browser.
  2. As it has not yet been authenticated, the BlueMind server redirects it to the OpenID server for authentication.
  3. Once authenticated, an openID cookie is placed in the user's browser, and the user is redirected to BlueMind with a ticket to validate.
  4. The BlueMind server :
    1. sees this ticket,
    2. asks the openID server if it is valid,
    3. if this is the case, authorizes the connection and sets a cookie BlueMind in the browser.

On next authentication:

  1. The customer requests access to the BlueMind server again.
  2. As it has the BlueMind cookie, it is automatically authenticated as long as this cookie is valid.

OpenID configuration for a single or primary domain​

  1. In the administration console, go to System management > Supervised domains > choose domain > Security tab.

    ℹ️ Administrator account
    The procedure concerns domain configuration, so it is possible and preferable to use a domain administrator account rather than the admin0 superuser.

  2. Select the OpenID authentication mode from the drop-down menu and fill in the associated fields:

    • third-party OpenID server URL: indicate the URL of the OpenID server used to retrieve the list of endpoints. For example, on Keycloak, it's a URL of the form: https://{openid-server}/realms/{realm}/.well-known/openid-configuration
      Replace:
      • {openid-server}by OpenID server hostname
      • {realm} by the realm configured on the server
    • OpenId customer identifier
    • **OpenId customer secret

  3. Click on "Save" to save your changes.

Users will then be automatically redirected to the OpenID server when accessing the authentication page.

OpenID configuration in a shared Environment​

To use a single authentication server with multiple domains, you configure the server for a primary domain, to which the other domains are linked.

  1. From the web Domain management:
    1. Set up a first domain using the method described above; it will then be considered the primary domain.
    2. Note the identifier (domain UID) of the subdomain(s).
  2. Go to the management page for the primary domain > Security tab. Below the OpenID configuration form, there is now an "Add" link:

    → Click to add as many subdomains as you like.
  3. In the fields provided, enter the UIDs of the domains you want to link:
  4. Click "Save" to confirm.
  5. In the subdomain management page, under the Security tab, the form has been replaced with a field displaying the primary domain's UID:

Find out more​

Related BlueMind documentation pages

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