Policy Server Guides › Policy Design Guide › Agents and Agent Groups › Create Custom Agents › Create a Custom Agent Object for the Agent Identity

Create a Custom Agent Object for the Agent Identity

After you have created an Agent type using the Agent API, you must configure an Agent object in the Policy Server User Interface, which includes the Agent type you defined. The Agent object enables the Agent to establish an Agent identity.

Note: When you create or modify a Policy Server object in the Policy Server User Interface, use ASCII characters. Object creation or modification with non-ASCII characters is not supported.

To create an Agent object

1. Log into the Policy Server User Interface.
2. From the menu bar of the SiteMinder Administration window, select Edit, System Configuration, Create Agent.

   The Agent Properties dialog opens.

3. In the Name field, enter the name of the new Agent. This name is case-insensitive, and must be 7-bit ASCII characters, in the range 32-127.

   You cannot create one agent named MyAgent and another named myagent.

4. Optionally, in the Description field, enter a brief description of the Agent.
5. Select the Support 4.x agents check box.

   A further set of controls specific to 4.x agent types appears in the lower part of the dialog.

   Note: For a custom agent, you must select the Support 4.x agents option. If you do not, the Policy Server will not communicate with the custom agent.

6. In the Agent Type group box, select the SiteMinder radio button.
7. From the drop-down list in the Agent Type group box, select the entry for your Custom Agent type.

   The contents of the SiteMinder Agent Dialog change to support Custom Agents.

8. In the Secret field, enter a shared secret that the Custom Agent uses to decrypt data sent by the Policy Server.

   This key must match the shared secret that was defined for the Affiliate Agent when it was installed. The encryption key must be between 1 and 255 characters in length and contain no embedded spaces.

9. In the Confirm Secret field, re-enter the shared secret.
10. Click OK to save the changes.

The SiteMinder Web Agent Guide contains all the parameter descriptions, the default values, and instructions on setting the parameters. Whether you are configuring a Web Agent centrally or locally, see this guide for parameter descriptions.

More information:

Configure Agent Identities for Non-Web Agents

Configure a Custom Agent Type

Start the Policy Server User Interface

Agent Dialog