Agent Guide › Preconfigure Policy Objects for the SiteMinder Agent › Policy Object Preconfiguration Overview

Policy Object Preconfiguration Overview

Before you install the SiteMinder Agent for IBM WebSphere, the SiteMinder Policy Server must be installed and be able to communicate with the system where you plan to install the SiteMinder Agent. Additionally, configure the Policy Server with the following:

• A SiteMinder administrator that has the right to register trusted hosts

  A trusted host is a client computer where one or more SiteMinder Agents are installed. The term trusted host refers to the physical system. There must be an administrator with the permission to register trusted hosts.

  To configure an administrator, see the Administrators chapter of the SiteMinder Policy Server Configuration Guide.

• Agent object/Agent identity

  An Agent object creates an Agent identity by assigning the Agent a name. You define an Agent identity from the Agents object in the Administrative UI. You assign the Agent identity a name and specify the Agent type as a Web Agent.

  The name you assign for the Agent is the same name you specify in the DefaultAgentName parameter for the Agent Configuration Object that you must also define to manage an Agent centrally.

• Host Configuration Object

  This object defines the communication between the trusted host and the Policy Server after the initial connection between the two is made.

  A trusted host is a client computer where one or more SiteMinder Agents can be installed. The term trusted host refers to the physical system, in this case the WebSphere Application Server host.

  Do not confuse this object with the trusted hosts configuration file, SmHost.conf, which is installed at the trusted host after a successful host registration. The settings in the SmHost.conf file enable the host to connect to a Policy Server for the first connection only. Subsequent connections are governed by the Host Configuration Object.

  For more information, see the SiteMinder Policy Server Configuration Guide.

• Agent Configuration Object

  This object includes the parameters that define the SiteMinder Agent configuration. Several parameters are required for basic operation.

  The Agent Configuration Object must include a value for the DefaultAgentName parameter. This entry must match an entry you defined in the Agent object.

  For more information, see the SiteMinder Policy Server Configuration Guide.

Note: If you are using the SiteMinder Agent for IBM WebSphere to challenge for credentials using an advanced authentication scheme, also configure the policy objects for the Web Agent that performs authentication.

For detailed information about how to configure SiteMinder Agent-related objects, see the SiteMinder Policy Server Configuration Guide, the SiteMinder Web Agent Guide, and the SiteMinder Web Agent Installation Guide.