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How to configure a Web Application Bridge for basic authentication

Applies to

HCL Digital Experience v9.5 and higher

Introduction

Some back-end applications require basic authentication to establish a secure connection. You can configure a Web Application Bridge (WAB) in HCL Digital Experience (DX) to authenticate against these back-end applications using credentials stored in the Credential Vault. This article describes how to configure a WAB for basic authentication.

Instructions

Creating a credential vault slot

  1. Log in to HCL DX as an portal administrator.
  2. Navigate to Open applications menu > Administration > Security > Credential Vault.
  3. Select Add a vault slot.
  4. In the Name box, enter BasicAuthVaultSlot
  5. Under Vault resource associated with vault slot:, select New and enter BasicAuthResource in the Name box.
  6. Select Vault slot is shared and enter the authentication details:
    1. Shared userid
    2. Shared password
    3. Confirm password
  7. Select OK.

Creating a content provider profile

  1. Navigate to Production > Virtual Application Manager.
  2. Select Create Content Provider Profile.
  3. In the Unique profile title box, enter basicAuthProfile.
  4. In the Host name or IP address box, specify the location of the application requiring basic authentication using the http://server:port format.
  5. Select Save.

Configuring single sign-on

  1. In Content Provider Profiles, select the default tab next to basicAuthProfile.
  2. Select Edit.
  3. Select the Single Sign-On tab.
  4. Under Authentication Mechanism, select HTTP Basic authentication.
  5. From the Credential slot drop-down list, select BasicAuthVaultSlot.
  6. Select Save.

Creating a Web Dock application

  1. In Virtual Web Application Manager, select Web Dock Applications.
  2. Select Create Web Dock Application.
  3. In the Unique web dock application title box, enter basicAuthDock.
  4. From the Content provider profile drop-down list, select basicAuthProfile.
  5. In the Resource path box, enter the resource path for the back-end application (for example, /basicAuth/basicAuthClass).
  6. Select Save.

Deploying a Web Dock application

  1. Navigate to a non-administration site page and turn on Edit Mode on the top toolbar.
  2. In the Site Manager side panel, select the menu icon (≡) next to a site node, and then select Create Child Page...
  3. Enter a Page title, and then select Create Page....
  4. On the left-side panel, select Add page components and applications.
  5. In the Applications tab, search for the basicAuthDock application and drag it onto the page layout.
  6. Verify that the authenticated data from the back-end application appears on the page.