Configure JVM custom properties, filtering HTTP requests, and enabling SPNEGO TAI in WebSphere Application Server (deprecated)
Performing this task helps you, as web administrator, to ensure that WebSphere Application Server is configured to enable the operation of the Simple and Protected GSS-API Negotiation mechanism (SPNEGO) trust association interceptor (TAI) with the required JVM property and with the appropriate filtering of HTTP requests.
You need to know how to use the WAS console to manage the security configuration and have the proper authority to modify the security configuration of the application server.
Deprecated feature:
In WAS v6.1, a trust association interceptor (TAI) that uses the SPNEGO to securely negotiate and authenticate HTTP requests for secured resources was introduced. In WebSphere Application Server 7.0, this function is now deprecated. SPNEGO web authentication has taken its place to provide dynamic reload of the SPNEGO filters and to enable fallback to the application login method. depfeat
Verify the configuration of the SPNEGO TAI. The deployment of the SPNEGO TAI can vary from a single WebSphere Application Server system on which a single application is running to a large multinode WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment (ND) cell, with dozens of application servers, hosting many applications. Every SPNEGO TAI is installed at the cell level. We must be aware of the particular SPNEGO TAI configuration.
The default behavior of the SPNEGO TAI is to not intercept HTTP requests. This default behavior ensures that the SPNEGO TAI can be installed into an existing cell, configured for a single application server and not change any other application servers in the cell. Other WebSphere Application Servers can run exactly as before within a given configuration.
Decide whether or not to use the sample SPN<id>.filterClass and determine the exact filter properties to use.
The default behavior of the SPNEGO TAI is to use the com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SPN<id>.filterClass and intercept all requests. If the default behavior is not appropriate, we can use a customer provided class, or extend or modify the sample class as required. The system programmer interface, com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SpnegoFilter allows you to implement a custom filter to determine whether or not to intercept a particular HTTP request. With the default implementation, we can set filter rules for coarse as well as fine-grained criteria in selecting which HTTP requests to intercept.
For an alternative to the following steps for enabling the SPNEGO TAI, we can use scripting to perform the operation. See Enable the SPNEGO TAI as JVM custom property (deprecated) for the details. Complete the following steps to enable the operation of the SPNEGO TAI with your selected filtering and with the JVM required property.
- Log on to WebSphere Application Server console.
- Click Servers > Application servers.
- (iseries)(dist) Select the appropriate server.
Under Server Infrastructure, expand Java and process management > Process Definition.
- (zos) Select the appropriate server. Under Server Infrastructure, expand Java and process management > Process Definition. Select Servant.
- Click Java virtual machine. Under Additional Properties, click Custom Properties.
Create a new custom property, if required, by clicking New, then code com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.isEnabled in the name field and true in the value field.
- Click Apply > OK to save the configuration
- (zos) Repeat step 3, but Select Control.
Then repeat steps 4 and 5.
- Identify when the SPNEGO TAI intercepts a given request. A set of filter properties is provided, but you must determine what is appropriate and modify the com.ibm.ws.security.spnego.SPN<id>.filterClass accordingly.
Results
The application server is configured and ready to provide a single sign-on environment for end users who have successfully authenticated in a Microsoft Active Directory domain. We must restart each application server configured for SPNEGO web authentication. Then the SPNEGO TAI is set to filter HTTP request when it is operating.Subtopics
- Enable the SPNEGO TAI as JVM custom property (deprecated)
Use wsadmin utility to enable the SPNEGO trust association interceptor (TAI) for WebSphere Application Server. - SPNEGO TAI JVM configuration custom properties (deprecated)
JVM custom properties control the operation of the Simple and Protected GSS-API Negotiation Mechanism (SPNEGO) trust association interceptor (TAI).
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