IDAM

Identity and Access Management

 

Oracle Identity Manager

(OIM)

Oracle Identity Manager is an enterprise/organization management system that automatically manages user’s access privileges. It has the following uses:

·         User Provisioning

·         Role & policy management

·         Reconciliation

·         Self service

1.      Provisioning

Process to create, update or delete user information in target resource. It is all done by OIM. Data flow from OIM to target resource.

Resource: Resources here means external source like E-directory, LDAP.

 

2.      Reconciliation

The process of comparing and synchronizing accounts information in target system with OIM. Here data flows from target resources (external) to Oracle Identity Manager.

a)      Trusted Source Reconciliation

The external source which is being used by OIM to pull the information has to be a trusted or Authoritative source (Eg. PeopleSoft, Workday).

b)     Full Reconciliation

The purpose of full recon is to reconcile all accounts on the target system into Oracle Identity Manager. It is mainly done when there is a migration from legacy system.

            Reconciliation can be done according to the need of enterprise/organization. Recon can be done on the weekly, regular or daily basis.

3.      Self Service

Oracle Identity Manager’s self-service capabilities allow users to manage their own passwords across managed resources. In case a user forgets his password, OIM presents questions which can be answered by user to enable identity verification and password retrieval. It is used as cost cutting service.

 OIM Overview

                        The OIM (Oracle Identity Manager) uses a trusted source to pull the data or information from it, which is known as Reconciliation. The data is stored in ODSEE (Oracle directory server enterprise edition). ODSEE is also called as E-directory server. The data is pushed to the target resources, which is known as Provisioning. ODSEE makes use of Connectors to map the data to target resources.

Connectors

            It holds the information that OIM needs to reconcile user identity with external source and provision user with target resource.

 Ø For validating user credentials, directory server/E-directory is being used. Whereas for application authentication ODSEE is used.
Ø  For protecting the application, the respective application “URL” has to be protected.

 

Oracle Access Manager

(OAM)

                    It is an access management tool which recommends Single Sign-On (SSO) solution. In simple words OAM is responsible for Authentication and Authorization. Where Authentication means validating the credentials and Authorization means what level of access to be authorized.

 

OAM Overview

                        When the user sends a request through the internet, the request goes to the WEB-GATE. Which is used to communicate between internet and OAM. The request which has come to the web-gate can be of two types i.e. Protected or Unprotected URL. Web-gate is the place where PEP (Policy enforcement point) is being used.

If it is an Unprotected URL then it goes to the OAM and the access is granted without asking any credentials but if the URL is a protected one, then the request flows to OAM which in turn goes to the ODSEE. Where ODSEE is connected to the OIM. Where the credentials are verified and access is given according to the roles and policy.

Load balancer is used to balance out the request which are coming from the users. It divides the load equally between the servers to execute the request as fast as possible. It the tool which is connected between the Web-gate and OAM.

Clustering is the other way of handling the load. It has a server and an instance of that server is made and its pre-defined how much load will be taken by which server. It is used for High Availability.

 

Disaster Recovery

            It is precautionary step which has to be implemented to safe guard the data or information. In case if one DC (data center) fails due to some unavoidable reasons then the data should be saved automatically to the backup DC, from where data can be retrieved at any given time.

 

Agents

            It is a tool which is used to communicate between Web-gate and OAM.

 

Oracle HTTPS Server (OHS)

            Every application needs a Web-gate. So instead of installing each Web-gate in front of each application, all the Web-gates are installed at a single point which is known as OHS.

 

Oracle Virtual Directory (OVD)

            It virtually collects or clusters all identity information from multiple directory servers or Database and gives back to OAM.

 

Session

            Same Idle time is maintained for all the application.

 

 

 

 

Application Domain

·         Resource policy

 

·         Authentication policy  and

 

·         Authorization policy

 

 

Resource policy

            A resource is a document entity, or content stored on the server that is available to users. Users/clients access the resources using a particular protocol (Eg. HTTP, HTTPS etc.). This resources are defined within the OAM.

 

Authentication policy 

            This mainly deals with how users/clients are authenticated i.e. against which source and for which all resources. Authentication policies are defined for resources in the application domain.

 

Authorization policy

            Authorization is the process of determining if a user has the right to access the requested page/resource. The Authorization is granted based on the roles and policy which are defined in the application domain.

 

 

 

Identity and Access Management

      Explain the Architecture of Oracle identity Manager?

Ans : The Oracle Identity Manager architecture consists of three tiers

Tier 1: Client:

The Oracle Identity Manager application GUI component reside in this tier. Users log in by using the Oracle Identity Manager client.The Oracle Identity Manager client interacts with the Oracle Identity Manager server, providing it with the user's login credentials.

Tier 2: Application Server:

The second tier implements the business logic, which resides in the Java Data Objects that are managed by the supported J2EE application server (JBoss application server, BEA WebLogic, and IBM WebSphere). The Java Data Objects implement the business logic of the Oracle Identity Manager application, however, they are not exposed to any methods from the outside world. Therefore, to access the business functionality of Oracle Identity Manager, you can use the API layer within the J2EE infrastructure, which provides the lookup and communication mechanism.

Tier 3: Database: 

The third tier consists of the database. This is the layer that is responsible for managing the storage of data within Oracle Identity Manager.

2.     What is Adapter? What Adapters available in OIM?

Ans : An adapter is a Java class that is created by an Oracle Identity Manager user through the Adapter Factory. Process Tasks adapters - automate completion of a process task and are attached to a Process Definition Form ( AD user, OID User, etc) Entity Adapter - automatically populates a field on the OIM User form or custom User Form on pre-update, pre-delete, pre-insert, post-insert, post-update, or post-delete Pre-Populate Adapter - specific type of rule generator attached to a user-created form field that can automatically generate data to the form but does not save that data to the OIM database but does send that information to appropriate directory user object. The data can come from manual entry on a form or from automated entry from the OIM defined forms. Rule Generator - can populate fields automatically on an OIM form or a user-created form and save to the OIM database based on business rules Task Assignment Adapter - automates the assignment of a process task to a user or group

 2.     What do mean by Connectors?

Ans : Connectors are the plugins that helps in integrating OIM with External Sources or Target Systems. In any OIM implementation, Reconciliation and Provisioning is dependent on configuration provided by this Connectors.Connectors are the containers that consist of several components like IT Resources, Process Forms, Adapters, and Event Handlers which are needed to integrate the External Sources, Applications and Target Systems.Scalable and flexible integration architecture is critical for the successful deployment of a company’s provisioning solutions. Oracle Identity Manager offers proven integration architecture and predefined connectors for fast and low-cost deployments.

1.     What is Event Handler?

In an Identity Management system, any action performed by a user or system is called an operation or Event. Examples of Events are creating users, updating users, creating password policy, and so on.

Types:

1. Pre-process Event Handler

2. Post-Process Event Handler

Pre-process Event Handler  :Mostly Pre-process Event Handlers are used for Validation Purpose.

Post-process Event Handler :Post-process Event Handlers are written mainly when there is a need of making changes internally after any event is triggered in OIM. 

1.     For E.g.: Assign Role according to Organization, Auto Assign an email ID using Firstname and Lastname of user and so on.

The story of Sujata and Lord Buddha

In Bihar, there is a village named as Sujata Garh. It is nearby to Bodhgaya. There is a banyan tree near Sujata garh where a temple has been constructed later.  Sujata temple as well as Sujata Garh – both nearby each other and is across river Niranjana known as Falgu in Gaya.

Earlier this village was known as Senani but now it is known as Bakraur village. Now-a-days devotees from all over the world visit this banyan tree to offer prayer to the tree and a flag. Flag is known as panchsheel. During fourth week of meditation five colors emanated from the body of Lord Buddha and flag represent those five colors.

Since ages nearby villagers having faith and they worship this tree specially during Vat Savitri day or marriage function. Sujata was the daughter of village-head. She also used to pray near this banyan tree in those days and had a wish to have a child. If fulfilled, she will offer milk-rice to banyan tree. During that time 'Gautam Siddhartha' in search of knowledge visited this very place and started meditation under this tree.

In both pictures, I am showing the place where Sujata was living at that time. It was later converted into a monetary by the great Emperor of Magadh Empire Ashoka.

Soon Sujata's wish was fulfilled and she becomes mother. One day she sent one of her maid – Panna to sweep the area around banyan tree as she has to visit to offer milk-rice. When Panna visited, she saw a young man with weak body meditating under the banyan tree. She went back and narrated this to Sujata. Sujata immediately prepared milk-rice and visited banyan tree while having a thought that the man must be God of banyan tree. She offered milk-rice to Gautam Siddhartha by saying – Banyan God please accept milk-rice as offering. Gautam Siddhartha opened his eyes and was surprised. He said: I am not banyan God. I am a simple human being in search of knowledge wandering here and there. Sujata said: Your body is so weak you should accept milk-rice as offering.  Again Gautam Siddhartha without accepting milk-rice went into meditation. At this time Sujata along with her friends sang a song:

"Hey veena ke vadak, veena ke taar ko itna mat kaso ki taar toot jaye...

aur itna bhi dheela na karo ki usse aawaz hi na nikle.."

That means one should not give too much pain to himself nor enjoy too much relaxation. One should always follow middle path.

Picture-4: Above Picture is at the place where this whole incident took place. Now above replica in the forms of statues has been kept on the same place. A temple has also been constructed.

This song was understood by Gautam Siddhartha. He accepted a short break in meditation that was making his body weak and accepted milk-rice. Gautam's five followers who were with him from Rajgrih (also known as Rajgir) was watching this. They immediately left Gautam Siddhartha while thinking him as a hypocrite. Gautam Siddhartha tried to stop them but they were adamant to leave. This made Gautam Siddhartha to say: Will alone continue the journey in search of knowledge and will follow middle path. To test whether his search will end with positive results or not he throw the utensil given by Sujata into Niranjana river to watch whether it flows opposite direction of river flow or not. And it did. That means the search will end with positive results and he continues his journey till he was enlightened under Peepul tree at Bodhgaya.

A night under the Moon

            Standing in the balcony, looking towards moon-light and getting more deeper into love with the golden reflection coming from it tonight. It is the beauty of this moon which comes only few days in month. But once we look into it, we do not want to close our eyes. No matter which season it is or what all events happening in this world, it always shine in sky with the same calmness and spreads light to get rid of the darkness after the sunset. I still wonder, how can something exist in this universe which is so calm, peaceful and beautiful like this. It does not want anything in return, but giving us so many lessons to be learned from it by spreading its beauty all over the world with the same dignity since centuries.

When I look back in my childhood, then still remember those nights at which I used to sleep on the roof (especially in summer and rainy seasons) in my village and used to look silently towards moon for hours with my constant eyes. We can not stop looking towards the chase-game between the moon and the clouds of rainy season. Sometimes it is getting into clouds with a higher speed as if it is going to collide with those clouds which are coming towards it, and then coming  back in the silent sky from the same clouds as if it has won a war. It was giving much more pleasure those days by playing games with the clouds than the unreal games which we play on our computers now a days.

I am standing in the balcony of my flat, with a laptop leaning on the wall and still looking towards moon. There are many other things which are currently going through my mind. Some of these are with great memories of my life and it is making me smile, some of these are regarding worries of this life which are related to responsibilities and liabilities. But at this moment, none of these thoughts can be greater than the feeling which I am getting from this beautiful angel named as Moon. 

In last two days, I have traveled a lot to see and learn about this state 'Punjab'. I have decided to get rid of my emptiness by exploring all the historical and tourist places which are  nearby. Yesterday, I went to Patiala to see some forts and old palaces of its Kingdom. I traveled in a bus so that I can see the things which are on the way of Chandigarh to Patiala. After a journey of almost 2 hours, I got down from the bus into a new city where I wanted to come since a long time, as there are some people or things which I have known for last 6 to 7 years, but never got a chance to meet them. 

In Patiala, there are many places which attract the tourists. I roam around the various streets and roads of this city and saw some amazing things. First of all, I went to see the Old palace 'Quila Mubarak'. This old palace has now be taken under the government of India. There is a museum inside of it which is full of things related to its kingdom. There are some areas of this fort which are closed for visitors, hence i couldn't see much things apart from museum, guns and it's huge walls.

Then I went near another palace named as 'Sheesh Mahal'. There is a palace inside a large compound of it. There is also a very large pond but has no water inside. This palace has also same stories as above and have nothing much to say about it.

After visiting above two forts, I went into a famous temple of Goddess Kaali. This temple is known as Kali Mata Mandir of Patiala. People say, if you wish something from true heart, then the goddess fulfill it. I am also a human being and have also some wishes. I don't know whether my heart is true or not, but I too wished something here. After visiting this temple I entered into a mall which is in front of it and then after some time, I returned to the city where I stay.

Today I explored some of the places of Mohali and Chandigarh. I went into the Gurudwara and temple of Mohali and then enjoyed shopping in busy markets of Chandigarh.

After all, I am home and still in the balcony, looking towards moon, listening songs,  clicking pictures of moon with my Blackberry and writing all these things.

                                                                                               By: Sachidanand, Chandigarh.

        

Rain at a dark night

               After returning from the office, I found a little emptiness around me(in the flat too) as everybody else had gone to meet their dearest-one for a 3 days holiday. It gets difficult sometimes to be alone and you have nobody to talk. The darkness of night gives different kind of feelings. Sometimes it makes me cry by thinking about the people to whom I loved most have left me completely alone,  sometimes I get afraid of unknown reason, sometimes I feel as if someone is standing behind, hence I close the door and get into the bed. Its dark night and one can hear nothing except the noise of dogs barking outside. I don't know what to write. I just know, writing will help quenching my unknown thirst. But I have became addicted of this loneliness, as on every weekend have to face same situation after all of my flatmates are gone to their home. We don't know who we are, or for what reason we have born. We feel so bored in our own place. So we can not just sit alone. This emptiness doesn't allow us to spend time with ourselves quietly. Our heart always need someone else.

I started thinking about those days with which I have gone through in last few months or years. I thought of people who encouraged me to achieve my dreams. And hence they became the best part of my life. They helped in every minutes of my life after I lost my parents.  I got their shoulder whenever I needed to cry on, to lean on as they came into my life in the form of friends and family.  I also thought of the people who used to show as I am a part of their family, just for their own benefits. They have used me as long as they needed me for their own selfish acts, and now they have stopped opening their doors after I ring the doorbell, as if I no longer exist. It hurts a lot. But I have learned from them, "If it doesn't open, It's not your door." At some point of times, you just cant forget about the best part of any relationships which made us smile at least for few moments.

I also thought of the girl (from my office), to whom I have started to like after knowing some best parts of her. I think, she is the one about whom I was  always dreaming. I have dreamed of a woman who writes about what-ever she feels. Who uses her fingers to turn into stories, novels, poems, books and many things apart from it. And there she is. She writes!! She writes about her feelings in the blogs, in her personal diary. Oh my angel. Where have you been for this much longer period of time. I was always waiting for you and will wait until the last breath of my life.  

    Today, after a long while I am converting my feelings into words when going with the same situation after I returned from my work-place. Sometimes when we are lonely and we have none to talk to, we feel like talking to ourselves. So to get rid of this emptiness, I went near the balcony so that I can get in touch with fresh air coming from the mountain side, and to change my feelings about evening which always bites more painfully than a scorpion. May be, we have friends in outside world and even have someone special who lives there too. But, they are not here when I need them most. Everybody is busy with their own work or people. We know all the people around us and we know their good qualities as-well-as the bad things, but the fact is we are very unknown to ourselves.

But, I am totally surprised, as in the middle of this summer, it was raining outside! Ohh my god!! It was only few drops of rain initially which made my heart-beats romantic. I felt happiness from inside after looking at them. I started singing some old rainy songs which I used to listen in my childhood. I felt as this killer evening is turning into a beautiful night. Hence, I started to think that why don't I write something about this beautiful night which is coming slowly. It will hug me in the beautiful darkness of it and let me get into dreams just after few hours.

It always gives pleasure when we think about present. Hence, I am thinking of the great man who said, "Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery, Today is a GIFT.That's why they call it Present !"

                                                              By: Sachidanand, Chandigarh.

     

The Choices You Will Regret in next few Years of Life

“If only…”  These two words paired together create one of the saddest phrases in the English language.

Here are ten choices that ultimately lead to this phrase of regret, and how to elude them:

01. Wearing a mask to impress others. – If the face you always show the world is a mask, someday there will be nothing beneath it.  Because when you spend too much time concentrating on everyone else’s perception of you, or who everyone else wants you to be, you eventually forget who you really are.  So don’t fear the judgments of others; you know in your heart who you are and what’s true to you.  You don’t have to be perfect to impress and inspire people.  Let them be impressed and inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.

02. Letting someone else create your dreams for you. – The greatest challenge in life is discovering who you are; the second greatest is being happy with what you find.  A big part of this is your decision to stay true to your own goals and dreams.  Do you have people who disagree with you?  Good.  It means you’re standing your ground and walking your own path.  Sometimes you’ll do things considered crazy by others, but when you catch yourself excitedly losing track of time, that’s when you’ll know you’re doing the right thing.  Read The 4-Hour Workweek.

03. Keeping negative company. – Don’t let someone who has a bad attitude give it to you.  Don’t let them get to you.  They can’t pull the trigger if you don’t hand them the gun.  When you remember that keeping the company of negative people is a choice, instead of an obligation, you free yourself to keep the company of compassion instead of anger, generosity instead of greed, and patience instead of anxiety.

04. Being selfish and egotistical. – A life filled with loving deeds and good character is the best tombstone.  Those who you inspired and shared your love with will remember how you made them feel long after your time has expired.  So carve your name on hearts, not stone.  What you have done for yourself alone dies with you; what you have done for others and the world remains.

05. Avoiding change and growth. – If you want to know your past look into your present conditions.  If you want to know your future look into your present actions.  You must let go of the old to make way for the new; the old way is gone, never to come back.  If you acknowledge this right now and take steps to address it, you will position yourself for lasting success.  Read The Power of Habit.

06. Giving up when the going gets tough. – There are no failures, just results.  Even if things don’t unfold the way you had expected, don’t be disheartened or give up.  Learn what you can and move on.  The one who continues to advance one step at a time will win in the end.  Because the battle is always won far away and long before the final victory.  It’s a process that occurs with small steps, decisions, and actions that gradually build upon each other and eventually lead to that glorious moment of triumph.

07. Trying to micromanage every little thing. – Life should be touched, not strangled.  Sometimes you’ve got to relax and let life happen without incessant worry and micromanagement.  Learn to let go a little before you squeeze too tight.  Take a deep breath.  When the dust settles and you can once again see the forest for the trees, take the next step forward.  You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going to be headed somewhere great.  Everything in life is in perfect order whether you understand it yet or not.  It just takes some time to connect all the dots.

08. Settling for less than you deserve. – Be strong enough to let go and wise enough to wait for what you deserve.  Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been to stand up taller than you ever were before.  Sometimes your eyes need to be washed by your tears so you can see the possibilities in front of you with a clearer vision again.  Don’t settle.

09. Endlessly waiting until tomorrow. – The trouble is, you always think you have more time than you do.  But one day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to work on the things you’ve always wanted to do.  And at that point you either will have achieved the goals you set for yourself, or you will have a list of excuses for why you haven’t.  Read The Last Lecture.

10. Being lazy and wishy-washy. – The world doesn’t owe you anything, you owe the world something.  So stop daydreaming and start DOING.  Develop a backbone, not a wishbone.  Take full responsibility for your life – take control.  You are important and you are needed.  It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday.  Someday is now; the somebody the world needs is YOU.

Ref :  http://www.themirrorpost.com

Process to Install Windows 7 using USB Pen Drive

Generally we make use of CDs for installing an operating system. In case one’s CD drive gets corrupted, he/she might face a lot of problems. USB pen drives can also be used for installing OS.

For installing operating systems using USB drive, we need to make the USB drive bootable. For this you need to follow some simple steps as described below:

PREPARING YOUR USB DRIVE

Insert a pen drive in any of the USB ports present in your system. Don’t forget to backup your data from the pen drive as it would get formatted in the process.

Start the DISKPART command-line utility. This can be done by pressing the WINKEY+R to open the Run Window. Type diskpart and hit Enter. For more details on the diskpart command-line utility you can refer Microsoft support on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300415 .

Now Run the list disk command.

Then Run select disk n command where “n” is the disk number of your USB drive.

Then Run clean command.

Then Run create partition primary.

Now in the next step Run active to make the partition active.

Then Run format fs=fat32 quick to format the USB drive as FAT32.

Now Run assign to give a letter.

Now all we need is to put the installation files from a bootable windows CD onto the drive. For this, explore the Windows 7 CD or the selected operating system CD and select all the file (Ctrl+A). After this copy these files (Ctrl+C) and paste them (Ctrl+V) in the USB drive.

In case you happen to have an ISO image of the setup. Extract the contents of the ISO file to the USB drive. For the extracting files from an ISO file, you can make use of Magic ISO Maker or 7-Zip (free).

Finally you are here.

Comparison Of Android Apps And IOS

The race between developing the latest, smartest and hifi phone is full on among the manufacturers and developers of various mobile phones. New version of  smart phone and tablets are being introduced at a very fast pace with new and thrilling features and specifications to provide the users with ultimate mobile cum pc experience.

The market is now days ruled by Apple and Android phones. Both are the biggest manufacturers of smart phones and tablets which have revolutionized the world of cellular phones.

Android and IOS

Android is the operating system led by Google to power mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets. Ios on the other is the iphone operating system developed by Apple to power all kinds of Apple devices such as iPad, iPhone and iPod. Today ios and android apps dominate the application world. The battle of making newer and more different apps is on as consumers are constantly demanding of more and more apps from their mobile carriers and developers.

pps Always Come First On Ios Than On Android

A report claims that consumers around the world always want to go with the ios app first. Ios apps are more popular among the consumers. When the app gets successful on ios, only then they go for the similar version on ios.

Android Apps Take More Time and Money

App developers state that android apps take more time and consume much higher budget than developing ios apps. This is one reason that consumers insist on requesting to develop an ios app first than to go for an android app.

Android vs. IOS Apps

Both the android and ios have given rise to a number of applications to be installed and utilized on apple and android smart phones and tablets. The App store by Apple iOS has approximately 425,000 applications. Android on the other hand is said to have around 200,000 applications. Obviously the number of applications does not guarantee the quality of the apps. A number of applications made by Apple ios serve no fruitful purpose and same can be said about android apps.

Variety Of Apps

As far as variety of the apps is considered, both android and ios stand at the same place. The variation and kinds of apps developed by both the systems is nearly the same. However, apps introduced by Apple get more popularized and then an Android version is released.

The Look and Feel Of The Apps

The applications by ios appear more appealing to eyes. The look and feel of ios apps are much polished than android applications. Two similar applications introduced by both the developers seem to be quite different in that ios apps give a more pleasing and unique look.

Ios Apps Crash More 

According to recent studies and research, it is being said that ios applications crash at a much higher rate as compared to android apps. The version 5.0.1 of ios hosts applications that crash more while the applications by android seem to be quite stable.