Configuration considerations for Web services security
To secure Web services with WebSphere Application Server, specify several different configurations. Although there is not a specific sequence in which specify these different configurations, some configurations reference other configurations.
We can configure Web services security on the application level, server level, and the cell level. The following table shows an example of the relationships between each of the configurations that apply to just the application, to an entire server, or to the entire cell. However, the requirements for the bindings depend upon the deployment descriptor. Some binding information depends upon other information in the binding or server and cell-level configuration. Within the table, the configurations in the Referenced configurations column are referenced by the configuration listed in the Configuration name column. For example, the token generator on the application-level for the request generator references the collection certificate store, the nonce, time stamp, and callback handler configurations.
We can configure Web services security on the application level and the server level. The following table shows an example of the relationships between each of the configurations that apply to just the application, to an entire server. However, the requirements for the bindings depend upon the deployment descriptor. Some binding information depends upon other information in the binding or server-level configuration. Within the table, the configurations in the Referenced configurations column are referenced by the configuration listed in the Configuration name column. For example, the token generator on the application-level for the request generator references the collection certificate store, the nonce, time stamp, and callback handler configurations.
Table 1. The relationship between the configurations. Configuration level Configuration name Referenced configurations Application-level request generator Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Nonce
- Timestamp
- Callback handler
Application-level request generator Key information
- Key locator
- Key name
- Token
Application-level request generator Signing information
- Key information
Application-level request generator Encryption information
- Key information
Application-level request consumer Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- Trusted ID evaluators
- JAAS configuration
Application-level request consumer Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Application-level request consumer Signing information
- Key information
Application-level request consumer Encryption information
- Key information
Application-level response generator Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Callback handler
Application-level response generator Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Application-level response generator Signing information
- Key information
Application-level response generator Encryption information
- Key information
Application-level response consumer Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- JAAS configuration
Application-level response consumer Key information
- Key locator
- Key name
- Token
Application-level response consumer Signing information
- Key information
Application-level response consumer Encryption information
- Key information
Server-level default generator bindings Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Callback handler
Server-level default generator bindings Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Server-level default generator bindings Signing information
- Key information
Server-level default generator bindings Encryption information
- Key information
Server-level default consumer bindings Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- Trusted ID evaluator
- JAAS configuration
Server-level default consumer bindings Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Server-level default consumer bindings Signing information
- Key information
Server-level default consumer bindings Encryption information
- Key information
Cell-level default generator bindings Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Callback handler
Cell-level default generator bindings Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Cell-level default generator bindings Signing information
- Key information
Cell-level default generator bindings Encryption information
- Key information
Cell-level default consumer bindings Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- Trusted ID evaluator
- JAAS configuration
Cell-level default consumer bindings Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Cell-level default consumer bindings Signing information
- Key information
Cell-level default consumer bindings Encryption information
- Key information
Table 2. The relationship between the configurations. Configuration level Configuration name Referenced configurations Application-level request generator Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Nonce
- Timestamp
- Callback handler
Application-level request generator Key information
- Key locator
- Key name
- Token
Application-level request generator Signing information
- Key information
Application-level request generator Encryption information
- Key information
Application-level request consumer Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- Trusted ID evaluators
- JAAS configuration
Application-level request consumer Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Application-level request consumer Signing information
- Key information
Application-level request consumer Encryption information
- Key information
Application-level response generator Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Callback handler
Application-level response generator Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Application-level response generator Signing information
- Key information
Application-level response generator Encryption information
- Key information
Application-level response consumer Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- JAAS configuration
Application-level response consumer Key information
- Key locator
- Key name
- Token
Application-level response consumer Signing information
- Key information
Application-level response consumer Encryption information
- Key information
Server-level default generator bindings Token generator
- Collection certificate store
- Callback handler
Server-level default generator bindings Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Server-level default generator bindings Signing information
- Key information
Server-level default generator bindings Encryption information
- Key information
Server-level default consumer bindings Token consumer
- Trust anchor
- Collection certificate store
- Trusted ID evaluator
- JAAS configuration
Server-level default consumer bindings Key information
- Key locator
- Token
Server-level default consumer bindings Signing information
- Key information
Server-level default consumer bindings Encryption information
- Key information
When multiple applications will use the same binding information, consider configuring the binding information on the server or cell level. For example, you might have a global key locator configuration that is used by multiple applications. Configuration information for the application-level precedes similar configuration information on the server-level and the cell level.
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