13.3 Configuring a SAML 2.0 Profile

Profiles control the methods of communication that are available for SAML 2.0 protocol requests and responses sent between trusted providers. These settings affect the metadata for the server and should be determined prior to publishing to other sites. The identity provider uses the incoming metadata to determine how to respond.

All available profile bindings are enabled by default. SOAP is used when all are enabled (or if the service provider has not specified a preference), followed by HTTP Post, then HTTP Redirect.

  1. In the Administration Console, click Devices > Identity Servers > Edit > SAML 2.0 > Profiles.

  2. Configure the following fields for identity providers and identity consumers (service providers):

    Artifact Resolution: Specify whether to enable artifact resolution for the identity provider and identity consumer.

    The assertion consumer service at the service provider performs a back-channel exchange with the artifact resolution service at the identity provider. Artifacts are small data objects pointing to larger SAML protocol messages. They are designed to be embedded in URLs and conveyed in HTTP messages.

    Login: Specifies the communication channel to use when the user logs in. Select one or more of the following:

    • Post: A browser-based method used when the SAML requester and responder need to communicate using an HTTP user agent. This occurs, for example, when the communicating parties do not share a direct path of communication. You also use this when the responder requires user interaction in order to fulfill the request, such as when the user must authenticate to it.

    • Redirect: A browser-based method that uses HTTP 302 redirects or HTTP GET requests to communicate requests from this identity site to the service provider. SAML messages are transmitted within URL parameters.

    Single Logout: Specifies the communication channel to use when the user logs out. Select one or more of the following:

    • HTTP Post: A browser-based method used when the SAML requester and responder need to communicate by using an HTTP user agent. This occurs, for example, when the communicating parties do not share a direct path of communication. You also use this when the responder requires user interaction in order to fulfill the request, such as when the user must authenticate to it.

    • HTTP Redirect: A browser-based method that uses HTTP 302 redirects or HTTP GET requests to communicate requests from this identity site to the service provider. SAML messages are transmitted within URL parameters.

    • SOAP: Uses SOAP back channel over HTTP messaging to communicate requests from this identity provider to the service provider.

    Name Management: Specifies the communication channel for sharing the common identifiers for a user between identity and service providers. When an identity provider has exchanged a persistent identifier for the user with a service provider, the providers share the common identifier for a length of time. When either the identity or service provider changes the format or value to identify the user, the system can ensure that the new format or value is properly transmitted. Select one or more of the following:

    • HTTP Post: A browser-based method used when the SAML requester and responder need to communicate using an HTTP user agent. This occurs, for example, when the communicating parties do not share a direct path of communication. You also use this when the responder requires user interaction in order to fulfill the request, such as when the user must authenticate to it.

    • HTTP Redirect: A browser-based method that uses HTTP 302 redirects or HTTP GET requests to communicate requests from this identity site to the service provider. SAML messages are transmitted within URL parameters.

    • SOAP: Uses SOAP back channel over HTTP messaging to communicate requests from this identity provider to the service provider.

  3. Click OK, then update the Identity Server.

  4. (Conditional) If you have set up trusted providers and have modified these profiles, the providers need to reimport the metadata from this Identity Server.