Appmarks are essentially bookmarks for applications. After you configure a connector for an application, you configure one or more appmarks to enable users to access the application in different ways. After users log in to SocialAccess, they see the appmarks on the landing page that they are entitled to see, according to the application settings for public access.
You can configure appmarks for any SSO connector. You can even configure multiple appmarks for the same connector. You can copy an existing appmark to create a new one.
NOTE:Appmarks for SSO connectors have no access control associated with them. If users know how to get to a service, they can access the service. Appmarks just add convenience to the user experience.
You configure appmarks on the Appmarks tab in the Configuration window for the connector. On the Appmarks tab next to the name of the appmark in the blue bar are several icons for renaming, copying, disabling, or deleting the appmark. Use the mouseover text to identify the icon you want to use. You can view and edit appmark configuration options by clicking the blue bar or the plus sign (+) icon. The following appmark options are available:
This button restores the Appmarks tab to the default settings for the connector. Consider using this option if you have configured custom connectors that are not working as expected. Click OK and apply the changes to the appliance to see the default appmark settings.
Enables the appmark to be visible on the SocialAccess landing page.
Specifies whether the URL of the appmark on the landing page is the identity provider-initiated type or the service provider-initiated type. This option is not available for the OAuth2 Resources connector because the OAuth2 Resources connector offers only service provider-initiated authentication. It does not have an IDP-initiated mode.
The URL that is to be used for the appmark. There are some replacement values that you can use. For more information, see Section 5.4.4, Using Appmark Variables.
The icon that represents the application on the landing page. You can use a different custom icon for each connector to improve their usability for users.
After you have configured a connector for an application, you can configure an appmark to simplify access to that application from the user’s landing page.
To configure an appmark:
Log in with an appliance administrator account to the administration console:
https://appliance_dns_name/appliance/index.html
(Conditional) If you have not already configured the connector for the application, drag it from the Applications palette to the Applications panel, then provide the appropriate information on the Configuration tab. The required information varies depending on the connector.
(Conditional) If you have already configured the connector for the application, click the connector on the Applications panel and click Configure.
Click the Appmarks tab.
Click the plus (+) sign next to the default created appmark.
The Desktop browser check box is selected by default. Complete the following steps to configure the appmark:
(Conditional) If it is applicable to the connector, select the appropriate option from the Initiate login at list.
Leave the default value in the URL field.
(Optional) If you want to provide your own icon for the appmark, click the X on the Icon line to delete the default icon. Then browse to and select a .png file to represent the application on the browser’s landing page.
Click OK, then click Apply.
The appliance reconfigures with the new change. After this process has completed, users who enter the appliance URL are redirected to a login page. They enter their user name and password and are presented with a landing page containing the appmark icon that links to the application.
Application connectors can have multiple appmarks. You can create a new appmark from scratch, or you can copy an existing appmark to save time, especially if you want to create several appmarks and just change one or two options on each one. This procedure assumes you have already configured the connector.
To create a new appmark for a connector:
Log in with an appliance administrator account to the administration console:
https://appliance_dns_name/appliance/index.html
Click the configured connector on the Applications panel, then click Configure.
Click the Appmarks tab, then do one of the following:
Click New
Click the Copy icon next to the existing appmark name
(Conditional) If you are copying an existing appmark, the Name field is pre-populated with COPY_${DisplayName}. You have several options:
You can accept this default name. (However, note that “COPY_” will be part of the name.)
You can change the display name by manually editing the text.
You can edit the display name by selecting from available variables. Type ${ at the end of the field, then select a variable from the list. For more information about the available variables, see Section 5.4.4, Using Appmark Variables.
Complete the appropriate fields for the appmark. For more information about available options, see Section 5.4.1, Understanding Appmark Options.
Click OK, then click Apply to update the appliance.
Each connector has different configuration settings and variables, and some appmarks need to contain information from the connector configuration to be useful. When you configure a connector, the Appmarks tab is automatically populated with one or more default appmarks, depending on the connector. The default settings contain some variables in the URL field.
You can use the variables that are available for a connector in the Name and URL fields if they are of the string type and have a value provided. To insert a variable, type ${ to display the available variables. Use the mouse or press the up/down arrow keys to select a variable. When you press the down arrow key, an additional box shows the resolved value. Press the up arrow key to close the resolved variables box. Some variables may not be resolvable until after you apply your changes on the appliance.