You can configure Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) authentication for web services. When SAML authentication is configured and enabled, users are authenticated by an external Identity Provider (IdP) instead of the directory service providers such as Active Directory and LDAP.

Enable SAML authentication

To enable SAML authentication with ONTAP System Manager or with the CLI, perform the following steps. If your cluster is running ONTAP 9.7, the ONTAP System Manager steps you need to follow are different. Refer to the ONTAP System Manager online help available on your system.

After you enable SAML authentication, only remote users can access the ONTAP System Manager GUI. Local users cannot access the ONTAP System Manager GUI after SAML authentication is enabled.

Workflow diagram of task to set up multfactor authentication with SAML

Before you begin

The IdP that you plan to use for remote authentication must be configured.

See the documentation that is provided by the IdP that you have configured.
You must have the URI of the IdP.

About this task

SAML authentication applies only to the http and ontapi applications.

The http and ontapi applications are used by the following web services: Service Processor Infrastructure, ONTAP APIs, or ONTAP System Manager.
SAML authentication is applicable only for accessing the admin SVM.

The following IdPs have been validated with ONTAP System Manager:

Active Directory Federation Services
Cisco DUO (validated with the following ONTAP versions:)
- 9.7P21 and later 9.7 releases
- 9.8P17 and later 9.8 releases
- 9.9.1P13 and later 9.9 releases
- 9.10.1P9 and later 9.10 releases
- 9.11.1P4 and later 9.11 releases
- 9.12.1 and later releases
Shibboleth

Perform the following steps depending on your environment:

Example 1. Steps

ONTAP System Manager

Click Cluster > Settings.
Next to SAML Authentication, click .
Ensure there is a check in the Enable SAML Authentication checkbox.
Enter the URL of the IdP URI (including "https://").
Modify the host system address, if needed.
Ensure the correct certificate is being used:
- If your system was mapped with only one certificate with type "server", then that certificate is considered the default and it isn’t displayed.
- If your system was mapped with multiple certificates as type "server", then one of the certificates is displayed. To select a different certificate, click Change.
Click Save. A confirmation window displays the metadata information, which has been automatically copied to your clipboard.
Go to the IdP system you specified and copy the metadata from your clipboard to update the system metadata.
Return to the confirmation window (in ONTAP System Manager) and check the checkbox I have configured the IdP with the host URI or metadata.
Click Logout to enable SAML-based authentication. The IdP system will display an authentication screen.
In the IdP system, enter your SAML-based credentials. After your credentials are verified, you will be directed to the ONTAP System Manager home page.

CLI

Create a SAML configuration so that ONTAP can access the IdP metadata:

security saml-sp create -idp-uri idp_uri -sp-host ontap_host_name

idp_uri is the FTP or HTTP address of the IdP host from where the IdP metadata can be downloaded.

ontap_host_name is the host name or IP address of the SAML service provider host, which in this case is the ONTAP system. By default, the IP address of the cluster-management LIF is used.

You can optionally provide the ONTAP server certificate information. By default, the ONTAP web server certificate information is used.
```
cluster_12::> security saml-sp create -idp-uri https://example.url.net/idp/shibboleth

Warning: This restarts the web server. Any HTTP/S connections that are active
         will be disrupted.
Do you want to continue? {y|n}: y
[Job 179] Job succeeded: Access the SAML SP metadata using the URL:
https://10.0.0.1/saml-sp/Metadata

Configure the IdP and Data ONTAP users for the same directory server domain to ensure that users are the same for different authentication methods. See the "security login show" command for the Data ONTAP user configuration.
```
The URL to access the ONTAP host metadata is displayed.
From the IdP host, configure the IdP with the ONTAP host metadata.

For more information about configuring the IdP, see the IdP documentation.
Enable SAML configuration:

security saml-sp modify -is-enabled true

Any existing user that accesses the http or ontapi application is automatically configured for SAML authentication.

If you want to create users for the http or ontapi application after SAML is configured, specify SAML as the authentication method for the new users.

Create a login method for new users with SAML authentication:

security login create -user-or-group-name user_name -application [http | ontapi] -authentication-method saml -vserver svm_name
```
cluster_12::> security login create -user-or-group-name admin1 -application http -authentication-method saml -vserver  cluster_12
```

Verify that the user entry is created:

security login show

cluster_12::> security login show

Vserver: cluster_12
                                                                 Second
User/Group                 Authentication                 Acct   Authentication
Name           Application Method        Role Name        Locked Method
-------------- ----------- ------------- ---------------- ------ --------------
admin          console     password      admin            no     none
admin          http        password      admin            no     none
admin          http        saml          admin            -      none
admin          ontapi      password      admin            no     none
admin          ontapi      saml          admin            -      none
admin          service-processor
                           password      admin            no     none
admin          ssh         password      admin            no     none
admin1         http        password      backup           no     none
**admin1       http        saml          backup           -      none**

Disable SAML authentication

You can disable SAML authentication when you want to stop authenticating web users by using an external Identity Provider (IdP). When SAML authentication is disabled, the configured directory service providers such as Active Directory and LDAP are used for authentication.

Perform the following steps depending on your environment:

Example 2. Steps

ONTAP System Manager

Click Cluster > Settings.
Under SAML Authentication, click the Enabled toggle button.
Optional: You can also click next to SAML Authentication, and then uncheck the Enable SAML Authentication checkbox.

CLI

Disable SAML authentication:

security saml-sp modify -is-enabled false
If you no longer want to use SAML authentication or if you want to modify the IdP, delete the SAML configuration:

security saml-sp delete

Troubleshoot issues with SAML configuration

If configuring Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) authentication fails, you can manually repair each node on which the SAML configuration failed and recover from the failure. During the repair process, the web server is restarted and any active HTTP connections or HTTPS connections are disrupted.

About this task

When you configure SAML authentication, ONTAP applies SAML configuration on a per-node basis. When you enable SAML authentication, ONTAP automatically tries to repair each node if there are configuration issues. If there are issues with SAML configuration on any node, you can disable SAML authentication and then reenable SAML authentication. There can be situations when SAML configuration fails to apply on one or more nodes even after you reenable SAML authentication. You can identify the node on which SAML configuration has failed and then manually repair that node.

Steps

Identify the node on which SAML configuration failed:

security saml-sp status show -instance

cluster_12::*> security saml-sp status show -instance

                         Node: node1
                Update Status: config-success
               Database Epoch: 9
   Database Transaction Count: 997
                   Error Text:
SAML Service Provider Enabled: false
        ID of SAML Config Job: 179

                         Node: node2
                Update Status: config-failed
               Database Epoch: 9
   Database Transaction Count: 997
                   Error Text: SAML job failed, Reason: Internal error. Failed to receive the SAML IDP Metadata file.
SAML Service Provider Enabled: false
        ID of SAML Config Job: 180
2 entries were displayed.

Repair the SAML configuration on the failed node:

security saml-sp repair -node node_name

cluster_12::*> security saml-sp repair -node node2

Warning: This restarts the web server. Any HTTP/S connections that are active
         will be disrupted.
Do you want to continue? {y|n}: y
[Job 181] Job is running.
[Job 181] Job success.

The web server is restarted and any active HTTP connections or HTTPS connections are disrupted.

Verify that SAML is successfully configured on all of the nodes:

security saml-sp status show -instance

cluster_12::*> security saml-sp status show -instance

                         Node: node1
                Update Status: config-success
               Database Epoch: 9
   Database Transaction Count: 997
                   Error Text:
SAML Service Provider Enabled: false
        ID of SAML Config Job: 179

                         Node: node2
                Update Status: **config-success**
               Database Epoch: 9
   Database Transaction Count: 997
                   Error Text:
SAML Service Provider Enabled: false
        ID of SAML Config Job: 180
2 entries were displayed.

Related information

ONTAP 9 Commands