Enabling a kiosk-like mode using ClientCertAuth

In Niagara, you can use the Client Certificate Authentication feature to facilitate a “kiosk-like” application. This would be useful for the purpose of providing an information display in a lobby, or an operator terminal in a mechanical room, where the browser automatically connects and authenticates to the station without user interaction. This procedure is performed by the Station Admin.

  • A Niagara station running with the AuthenticationService already configured for Single Sign On.

  • Admin privileges adequate for certificate management and creating/configuring station users.

  1. In a Property Sheet view of the station’s Services container, click to expand AuthenticationService > SSO Configuration and confirm that the Auto Attempt Single Sign On property is set to false.
    This allows authentication to bypass the automatic SSO logon prompt when a user access the station.
  2. Follow the workflows provided to “Set up client certificate authentication” (described in the Station Security Guide, User Authentication chapter).
    Note: You will need to complete the procedures for both the Admin and User workflows for client certificate authentication. You will be creating a client certificate for a new user for the kiosk-like mode on this station, and you will also configuring this user for client certificate authentication.
  3. In the NavTree, double-click on the UserService to open the User Manager view, and click New to create a new station user (e.g., “kioskUser”), and configure the new user as follows:
    1. For Auto Logoff Enabled, click the checkbox to deselect (disable) it.
    2. For the Authentication Scheme Name click the dropdown list and click to select ClientCertAuthScheme
    3. For Password, enter the required Private Key Password for the user’s client certificate.
  4. In User Manager view, click the Views dropdown list and click on Permissions Browser.
  5. In the Permissions Browser expand folders and confirm that this new user has a limited permissions set, appropriate for this kiosk-like mode.