About Access Manager

Access Manager is a component of Sun Java^TM Enterprise System (Java ES), a set of software components that provide services that support enterprise applications distributed across a network or Internet environment. Access Manager provides these major functions:

• Centralized authentication and authorization services using both role-based and rule-based access control

• Single sign-on (SSO) for access to an organization’s Web-based applications

• Federated identity support with the Liberty Alliance Project and Security Assertions Markup Language (SAML)

• Logging of critical information including administrator and user activities by Access Manager components for subsequent analysis, reporting, and auditing. Logging is based on the J2SE logging APIs (java.util.logging).

Access Manager is also part of the Sun Identity Management Suite, which provides the functions required to use, share, and manage identity information, including directory services, access management, provisioning, and federation. The products in the Identity Management Suite include:

• Sun Java System Access Manager

• Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition

• Sun Java System Federation Manager

• Sun Java System Identity Auditor

• Sun Java System Identity Manager

• Sun Java System Identity Manager Service Provider Edition

For more information about each component, see the Sun Software web site: http://www.sun.com/software/.

The following figure shows the Access Manager, Identity Manager, and Directory Server identity management components.

Figure 1–1 Sun Identity Management Components

Sun Java System Identity Manager provides user provisioning, password management, synchronization services, comprehensive audit and reporting, and delegated administration. Identity Manager is not a component of Sun Java Enterprise System. To use Identity Manager in your deployment or to obtain more information, contact your Sun Microsystems technical representative or a Sun sales office: http://www.sun.com/sales-n-service/WWSales.html.

For a detailed description of Access Manager, see the Sun Java System Access Manager 7 2005Q4 Technical Overview.