Authentication Authentication Authentication! SCOM Web Console authentication settings
SCOM Web Console authentication settings discussion! Let’s go through standard IIS authentication settings like disabling Anonymous Authentication, and enabling Windows Authentication, AD Client Certificate Authentication, and binding providers (Negotiate before NTLM). Ready to begin?! A shout out to Alden Hatten as we worked through this and resetting the Web Console run here recently, that brought up the urgency to document.
Kevin Holman’s SCOM QuickStart guides for SCOM 2019, 2022 (Including WebConsole default setup steps)
SCOM Web Console Authentication settings defaults
RDP to server with SA or Local admin level account
Go into IISManager > Expand the tree to then click on ‘Default Web Site’
Click on Authentication
IIS Manager output for ‘Default Web Site’
IISManager Default Authentication settings
SmartCard aka AD Client Certificate Authentication defaults
In IIS Manager for the server > Click on Authentication
Verify AD Client Certificate Authentication is added and enabled.
IIS Manager Authentication, with SmartCard or Client Certificate Authentication
Windows Authentication
Set Authentication Providers order
From IIS Manager > Expand Default Web Site
Click on Authentication > Click on Providers at the top right
If Negotiate is not on top, highlight, and click Move Up button > Click OK to set. Restart IIS to make setting take effect ( also use iisreset from command prompt or PowerShell )
NOTE: Anonymous Authentication should be disabled!
IIS Manager Authentication, Windows Authentication, Providers, Negotiate on top
If screenshot is your setup, close the Providers window
After reviewing these authentication settings, you should be one step closer to encrypted authentication.
I attribute Kerberos AD delegation as the Navajo and Comanche helped allies in WW2, encrypted and encoded communication
Next on the list is to setup SCOM WebConsole settings for Kerberos AD Delegation. I attribute Kerberos AD delegation as the Navajo and Comanche helped allies in WW2, encrypted and encoded communication. Time to make the donuts! (to setup SCOM WebConsole settings for Kerberos AD Delegation)
If you’re improperly setup – you’ll flag on STIG configs V-243470, V-243478
Configure delegation on SCOM and/or PowerBI servers
Take the list of affected servers, to take action. Use the steps below to configure relevant SCOM or PowerBI servers.
Configure SCOM Web Console server
With domain administrator (DA or Tier0) rights, open the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in.
From ADUC > change ‘Find’ drop-down to Computers
In the Computer name text box, enter <SCOMWebConsoleServerName> and click search
Right click the server in the results box > Select Properties.
Select the Delegation tab.
Select Trust this computer for delegation to specified services only > Use any authentication protocol.
Under Services to which this account can present delegated credentials, select Add.
In the new dialog box, select Users or Computers.
Enter <SCOMWebConsoleServerName>, and then select OK.
Click the Add button to add services
Select the w3svc and www processes
Select OK.
ADUC SCOM Lab server choosing process
Verification of delegation settings
ADUC Delegation flags with SCOM MS processes selected.
Depending on replication times for the forest, wait and later reboot <SCOMWebConsoleServerName> to have settings take effect.
PowerBI Report Server
With domain administrator (DA or Tier0) rights, open the (ADUC) Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in. NOTE: RSAT tools recommended to be installed on SCOM Management Server(s)
In the Search text box, enter PowerBI service account <Example can be SCOMDataAccessReader Account> and click search
Right-click the PowerBI service account <Example can be SCOMDataAccessReader Account>, select Properties.
Select the Delegation tab.
Select Trust this computer for delegation to specified services only > Use any authentication protocol.
Under Services to which this account can present delegated credentials, select Add.
In the new dialog box, select Users or Computers.
Enter the service account for the data source, and then select OK.
Select the SPN that you created for <PowerBI Report Server Name>
Select both as FQDN and the NetBIOS names are in the SPN
Select OK.
Back to ADUC (AD Users and Computers), change Find drop-down to Computers
Enter <PowerBI Report Server Name>, and click search
Right click the server in the results box > Select Properties.
Select the Delegation tab.
Select Trust this computer for delegation to specified services only > Use any authentication protocol.
Under Services to which this account can present delegated credentials, select Add.
In the new dialog box, select Users or Computers.
Enter <Example can be SCOMDataAccessReader Account>, and then select OK.
Click the Add button to add services
Select the HTTP process
ADUC Delegation Add Services > HTTP, WWW
Select OK.
ADUC Delegation Settings for http for PowerBI Report Server (PBIRS)
Airplane movie – AutoPilot with SCOM Web Console settings
Makes me think of the scene from Airplane with the AutoPilot blow-up, similarly parallel to engineer experiences talking about the SCOM Web Console configuration. I’m ready to dispel some myths to document securing the ‘SCOM Web Console for authentication’
Quick outline
Knowledge Articles to aid with ‘SCOM WebConsole settings for authentication’
Setup ‘SCOM WebConsole settings for secure authentication’, access, and rendering methods. I’ve setup the web console role with defaults, then come back later. Holman’s quick start lets you complete the role with default HTTP setup. After that, we add an SSL cert for HTTPS. Thirdly, employ aliases, or F5 load balancers to simplify user experience accessing the console. Fourth, setup SmartCards to help secure, also Kerberos authentication/delegation.
Part 1 – Start with the SSL certificate for https
Setup the ‘SCOM WebConsole settings for authentication’, beginning with a SSL certificate request for the server(s) in question. Add any SAN names/aliases you want (if not load balanced).
NOTE:
Use CA Auto-Enrollment templates to simplify SSL request whenever an internal or external SSL certificate is required for your organization. Generally, external certificates require manual effort executing the certreq script.
Sample SSL certificate
SCOM Web Console SSL Cert details
Less typing means less typos
Below SSL certificate example with any SAN names/aliases (if not load balanced). Simplify the SCOM web console link to https://SCOM/ versus https://SCOMSERVERName/OperationsManager
IIS manager server certificates with SAN DNSName aliases included.
Part 2 – Add authentication Smart Card in IIS
Next! – I will set up SmartCard role in ‘SCOM WebConsole settings for authentication’. Additionally, review the Learn.microsoft.com site for IIS here.
Compatibility
Version
Notes
IIS 10.0
The <iisClientCertificateMappingAuthentication> element was not modified in IIS 10.0.
IIS 8.5
The <iisClientCertificateMappingAuthentication> element was not modified in IIS 8.5.
IIS 8.0
The <iisClientCertificateMappingAuthentication> element was not modified in IIS 8.0.
IIS 7.5
The <iisClientCertificateMappingAuthentication> element was not modified in IIS 7.5.
IIS 7.0
The <iisClientCertificateMappingAuthentication> element of the <authentication> element was introduced in IIS 7.0.
IIS 6.0
The <iisClientCertificateMappingAuthentication> element replaces the IIS 6.0 IIsCertMapper metabase object.
Add the Client Certificate feature for the SCOM Web Console
Let’s add SmartCard authentication capability.
Open Server manager >
Open Server manager
Click on Manage > Add roles/features (top right)
Scroll to the top right, and click on Manage, then ‘Add Roles or features’
Click Next twice to get to the Server Roles
Server Manager > Server Roles tab output
Server Manager > Server Roles
Expand Web Server drop down
SCOM Web Console Authentication installing Client Certificate Mapping role
Click the box to check ‘Client Certificate Mapping Authentication (Installed)’ and click Next twice (2) [ two times ]
Expand Server Manager > Web Server > Client Certificate Mapping Authentication
Click Install (mine is greyed out as it’s enabled)
Server Manager Features Install
Allow install to complete, server will prompt if reboot required.
NOTE: Either way, reboot is required to apply new authentication method.
Validate IISManager after reboot
Click on Authentication to verify ‘Active Directory Client Certificate Authentication’ is present and enabled.
IIS Authentication with Client Certificate Authentication (after role installed)
After reboot, verify ‘AD Client Certificate authentication’ method is enabled and visible.
From IISManager > Server > Authentication > Verify method is there and enabled
IIS Authentication with Client Certificate Authentication (after role installed)
Verify Default Web Site Authentication setup
Verify Default Web site has Windows Authentication enabled.
Navigation steps:
IIS Manager > Expand Sites > Default Web Site > Authentication
Windows Authentication should be enabled, others disabled
Default Web Site Authentication showing Windows Authentication ONLY enabled
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