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Manage remote authentication

Contributors netapp-mwallis
PDFs

LDAP is an industry standard protocol for accessing distributed directory information and a popular choice for enterprise authentication. You can connect Astra Control Center to an LDAP server to perform authentication for selected Astra Control users.

At a high level, the configuration involves integrating Astra with LDAP and defining the Astra Control users and groups corresponding to the LDAP definitions. You can use the Astra Control API or web UI to configure LDAP authentication and LDAP users and groups.

Important Astra Control Center uses the user login attribute, configured when remote authentication is enabled, to search for and keep track of remote users. An attribute of an email address ("mail") or user principal name ("userPrincipalName") must exist in this field for any remote user you wish to appear in Astra Control Center. This attribute is used as the username in Astra Control Center for authentication and in searches for remote users.

Add a certificate for LDAPS authentication

Add the private TLS certificate for the LDAP server so that Astra Control Center can authenticate with the LDAP server when you use an LDAPS connection. You only need to do this once, or when the certificate you have installed expires.

Steps

  1. Go to Account.

  2. Select the Certificates tab.

  3. Select Add.

  4. Either upload the .pem file or paste the contents of the file from your clipboard.

  5. Select the Trusted check box.

  6. Select Add certificate.

Enable remote authentication

You can enable LDAP authentication and configure the connection between Astra Control and the remote LDAP server.

Before you begin

If you plan to use LDAPS, ensure that the private TLS certificate for the LDAP server is installed in Astra Control Center so that Astra Control Center can authenticate with the LDAP server. See Add a certificate for LDAPS authentication for instructions.

Steps

  1. Go to Account > Connections.

  2. In the Remote Authentication pane, select the configuration menu.

  3. Select Connect.

  4. Enter the server IP address, port, and preferred connection protocol (LDAP or LDAPS).

    Note As a best practice, use LDAPS when connecting with the LDAP server. You need to install the LDAP server's private TLS certificate in Astra Control Center before you connect with LDAPS.

  5. Enter the service account credentials in email format (administrator@example.com). Astra Control will use these credentials when connecting with the LDAP server.

  6. In the User Match section, do the following:

    1. Enter the base DN and an appropriate user search filter to use when retrieving user information from the LDAP server.

    2. (Optional) If your directory uses the user login attribute userPrincipalName instead of mail, enter userPrincipalName in the the correct attribute in the User login attribute field.

  7. In the Group Match section, enter the group search base DN and an appropriate custom group search filter.

    Note Be sure to use the correct base Distinguished Name (DN) and an appropriate search filter for User Match and Group Match. The base DN tells Astra Control at what level of the directory tree to start the search, and the search filter limits the parts of the directory tree Astra Control searches from.

  8. Select Submit.

Result

The Remote Authentication pane status moves to Pending, and then to Connected when the connection to the LDAP server is established.

Disable remote authentication

You can temporarily disable an active connection to the LDAP server.

Note When you disable a connection to an LDAP server, all settings are saved, and all remote users and groups that were added to Astra Control from that LDAP server are retained. You can reconnect to this LDAP server at any time.
Steps

  1. Go to Account > Connections.

  2. In the Remote Authentication pane, select the configuration menu.

  3. Select Disable.

Result

The Remote Authentication pane status moves to Disabled. All remote authentication settings, remote users, and remote groups are preserved, and you can re-enable the connection at any time.

Edit remote authentication settings

If you have disabled the connection to the LDAP server or the Remote Authentication pane is in a "Connection error" state, you can edit the configuration settings.

Note You cannot edit the LDAP server URL or IP address when the Remote Authentication pane is in a "Disabled" state. You need to Disconnect remote authentication first.
Steps

  1. Go to Account > Connections.

  2. In the Remote Authentication pane, select the configuration menu.

  3. Select Edit.

  4. Make the necessary changes, and select Edit.

Disconnect remote authentication

You can disconnect from an LDAP server and remove the configuration settings from Astra Control.

Caution If you are an LDAP user and you disconnect, your session will immediately end. When you disconnect from the LDAP server, all configuration settings for that LDAP server are removed from Astra Control, as well as any remote users and groups that were added from that LDAP server.
Steps

  1. Go to Account > Connections.

  2. In the Remote Authentication pane, select the configuration menu.

  3. Select Disconnect.

Result

The Remote Authentication pane status moves to Disconnected. Remote authentication settings, remote users, and remote groups are removed from Astra Control.