Sun Java System SAML v2 Plug-in for Federation Services User's Guide

Basic SAML Components

SAML consists of a number of components that, when used together, permit the exchange of identity, authentication, and authorization information between autonomous organizations. The first component is an assertion which defines the structure and content of the information being transferred. The structure is based on the SAML v2 assertion schema. How an assertion is requested by, or pushed to, a service provider is defined as a request/response protocol encoded in its own structural guidelines: the SAML v2 protocol schema. A binding defines the communication protocols (such as HTTP or SOAP) over which the SAML protocol can be transported. Together, these three components create a profile (such as Web Browser Artifact or Web Browser POST). In general, profiles satisfy a particular use case. The following image illustrates how the components are integrated for a SAML interaction.

Figure 1–1 How Basic SAML Components Work Together

How the basic components used during a SAML interaction
are integrated.

Two other components that may be included in SAML messages are:

Metadata

Metadata defines how configuration information shared between two communicating entities is structured. For instance, an entity's support for specific SAML bindings, identifier information, and public key information is defined in the metadata. The structure of the metadata is based on the SAML v2 metadata schema. The location of the metadata is defined by Domain Name Server (DNS) records.

Authentication Context

In some situations, one entity may want additional information to determine the authenticity of, and confidence in, the information being sent in an assertion. Authentication context permits the augmentation of assertions with information pertaining to the method of authentication used by the principal and how secure that method might be. For example, details of a multi-factor authentication can be included.


Note –

More general information on SAML can be found at the OASIS web site or in the Sun Java System Access Manager 7 2005Q4 Federation and SAML Administration Guide.