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Overview

In addition to managing users, groups and roles locally in the Org (Tenant), system admins can also optionally integrate their Org with their corporate Identity Provider (IDP) via SAML 2.0.

The SSO based login process validates the user's credentials against the corporate user directory typically managed by your Identity Provider (IdP). A successful validation ensures that users can log on to Web Console without the need for a separate login.

The integration with SAML 2.0 IdP's support both IdP and SP Initiated flows.

Important

Only privileged users with the System Admin role are authorized to view, configure and manage this setting.

Rafay Logo for IdP Chiclet

Click the button below to access Rafay's official brand assets. You can download images that you can configure as the logo in your Identity Provider (IdP).

Rafay Logo

How SSO Works

The controller supports SSO by implementing federated authentication using Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) version 2.0.

To enable SSO, an Org administrator (highest privilege in the Org) must configure the Org to work with their Identity Provider (IdP). The IdP maintains a record of all usernames and their passwords in an encrypted format.

However, if you use a preconfigured IdP or if this is a subsequent login, the controller uses SAML assertions in an HTTP POST profile to communicate with your IdP.

For every login attempt, the Web Console sends SAML requests to the configured IdP login URL. The IdP validates the SAML request and sends a SAML assertion back to the Web Console.

Service Provider Initiated Flow

With the SP initiated flow for Single Sign On, the user accesses the Controller first and is redirected to the configured Identity Provider (IdP) for authentication and optional authorization. If the user is associated with multiple Orgs (tenants), the user is also asked to specify the Org name that they wish to access. The resulting assertion is then forwarded to the controller which uses the provided details to calculate the user's role.

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant Controller
    participant Identity Provider

    User->>+Controller: Access Org(s)
    Note right of Controller: SSO enabled for Org(s)?
        User->>+Controller: Provides Org name if associated with multiple Orgs
    Controller-->>+User: Redirect User to IdP
    rect rgb(191, 223, 255)
    User->>+Identity Provider: User Credentials
    Note right of Identity Provider: Authenticate User
    Identity Provider-->>-User: Send Assertion & Group Info
    end
    Note left of User: Redirect User to Controller
    User-->>Controller: IdP Assertion
    Note right of Controller: Map Group to Roles
    Controller-->>-User: Provide Role based Access

IdP Initiated Flow

With the IdP initiated flow for Single Sign On, the user accesses the Identity Provider first where authentication is performed. When the user clicks on the app, the user is redirected to the controller by the IdP. An assertion is forwarded to the controller which uses the provided details to calculate the user's role.

sequenceDiagram
    participant User
    participant Identity Provider
    participant Controller

    User->>+Identity Provider: Access App in IdP
    Note right of Identity Provider: User Authenticated
    Identity Provider-->>-User: Assertion with Group Info
    Note left of User: User redirected to Controller
    rect rgb(191, 223, 255)
    User->>+Controller: Access Org
    Note right of Controller: Group mapped to Roles
    Controller-->>-User: Role based Access Provided
    end

User Experience with SSO

Once the user enters their email address in the Web Console's authentication window, the Controller automatically determines whether Single Sign On (SSO) is configured or not.

Local Authentication

User experience when SSO is not configured and authentication is performed locally by the Controller.

User Experience without SSO

SSO based Authentication

User experience when SSO is configured/required for the user. Authentication is performed by the Identity Provider (IdP).

User Experience without SSO

Considerations: Same IDP configured for multiple Orgs

  • Create multiple applications within the Identity Provider with each application mapping to an Org that the IDP is associated with. Refer to the relevant Identity Provider section for more details around the set-up process

  • IDP initiated flow will remain the same

  • For the Service Provider initiated flow, there will be an additional step where the user has to provide the Org name

User Experience with multiple IDPs

API Keys

In addition to browser based access to the Console, users can also access the platform via the RCTL CLI and REST APIs. Access to these channels is secured via a combination of "API Keys" and "Secrets".

Refer here on how to manage API Keys.

Supported NameID Formats

Ensure that you use the "email address" for the SAML 2.0 NameID in your IdP.

Supported IdPs

The Web Console can be integrated with any SAML 2.0 compliant IdP. The table below describes the type of support for the ecosystem of IdPs.

Type Description
Certified A certified IdP is fully tested by the QA team. We certify these IdPs and performs regular testing with every release to ensure the SSO functionality works as expected
Supported A supported IdP is not tested by the QA team with every release. However, the SSO functionality should work as expected and we will provide support for such IdPs

Certified IdPs

Supported IdPs

  • Any IdP that supports the SAML 2.0 protocol

Note

Please contact Support for assistance with configuration of an IdP not listed under Certified IdPs.

IdP Metadata

Some Identity Providers (IdP) do not support the convenience of an IdP metadata URL for a streamlined initial configuration. For these situations, we provide the option for administrators to upload the "IdP metadata XML file".

IdP Metadata

IdP Users

Administrators can view the list of users that have accessed the Web Console using Single Sign On (SSO).

IdP Users