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Comtarsia Software Overview

Introduction

At Rutgers University, IT administrators have had access to a central LDAP server for use as a directory and authentication service. This allows Rutgers NetID authentication on end-user PC's and in computer labs. On the Windows 2000 and XP platforms, and IT administrator was able to make use of software called “pGina” to allow LDAP authentication. However, pGina was not an option with the introduction of Windows Vista and then Windows 7, the prominence of 64-bit, and the decreased development of pGina and lack of support on Windows 7 x64. Support in particular for Windows 7 x64 (but also for previous platforms such as XP and 2003) was found in new software, “Comtarsia Logon Client”.

About Comtarsia Software

Comtarsia is a German-based company that creates and supports software that provides authentication capabilities to directory services such as LDAP.

Generally, version 2006 software is designed to support Windows 2000/XP/2003. Version 2008 software is designed to support the Windows Vista, 7, and 2008 platforms.

Comtarsia web site (English):
http://signon.comtarsia.com/index_en.html

Key Software for Rutgers

The most important piece of software for Rutgers, and the reason for purchase, is the Comtarsia LDAP Logon Client, specifically version 2008, which supports Windows 7 (including 64-bit).

The “SignOn Gate” software is also useful in that it allows a computer using any of the Logon Client software to create or synchronize accounts on Active Directory or other directory server on-the-fly, rather than work with local accounts. This software is server-based, as Logon Clients connect to it to have the accounts created or synchronized.

Download Links

The following download link is available for all Comtarsia software. One can download the software directly from Comtarsia, and then license the product using the keys provided in the software portal.

http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Licensing

Through a membership program through Comtarsia called the “Comtarsia Academic Free License Program”, all of Comtarsia's software is licensed to all departments of Rutgers University. The membership ends on August 31, 2013. The license keys are fully functional and valid for an unlimited time with product builds released within the membership period.

Each piece of software is licensed using a license file. The file names and associated software are shown below:

Support Information

Original adopter, technical contact:

The original adopter and tester of Comtarsia LDAP Logon Client 2008 was Andy Mudrak. He would be happy to field any questions about the software or its uses.
Andy Mudrak
Systems Architect
School of Communication and Information
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
ajmudrak@rutgers.edu
732-932-7500 ext. 8901

Other known adopters and possible technical contacts:

Brian Luper, Project Manager, OIT – Central Systems & Services (central computer labs)

Support from Comtarsia

Support requests can be made to Comtarsia during the licensing period. To do so, one must provide a “code word” to validate the support request. The support code word is available in the Support can be contacted via e-mail:
support@comtarsia.com

There is also a web-based knowledge base on Comtarsia's web site:
http://signon2.comtarsia.com/main/en/Support/Main

Brian Luper's group has had success with support requests to Comtarsia, they have been reported to be open to customizations and have been easy to work with.

Descriptions of Software

LDAP Logon Client 2008

This version supports Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, and works with either 32-bit or 64-bit editions of each OS.

Comtarsia Logon Client 2008 allows authentication and integration of Windows workstations into an LDAP managed network.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

Example Configuration for Comtarsia LDAP Logon Client 2008 with the Rutgers LDAP Server

This setup information is taken from a working example used at the School of Communication and Information computer labs, running Windows 7 x64 and the Comtarsia LDAP Logon Client 2008.

The following configuration is designed to provide LDAP (NetID) authentication, which will log into a local user account. If the account does not exist locally, one will be created on the fly.

The system on which this is configured should have the RULink CA certificate installed in the computer's “Trusted Certificate Authority” certificate store. This can be obtained at: http://idms.rutgers.edu/ldap/certificates.shtml

RACF Logon Client 2008

This version supports Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, and works with either 32-bit or 64-bit editions of each OS.

Comtarsia Logon Client 2008 allows authentication and integration of Windows workstations into a RACF managed network.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

Domino Logon Client 2008

This version supports Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, and works with either 32-bit or 64-bit editions of each OS.

Comtarsia Logon Client 2008 allows authentication and integration of Windows workstations into a Domino managed network.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

LDAP Logon Client 2006

This version supports Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Comtarsia Logon Client 2006 allows authentication and integration of Windows workstations into an LDAP managed network.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

RACF Logon Client 2006

This version supports Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Comtarsia Logon Client 2006 allows authentication and integration of Windows workstations into a RACF managed network.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

Domino Logon Client 2006

This version supports Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Comtarsia Logon Client 2006 allows authentication and integration of Windows workstations into a Domino managed network.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

Web Gateway 2006

The Comtarsia Web Gateway is the universal Single Sign On solution for web applications with user/password respectively Smart Card/Token logon on a web portal.

The Comtarsia Web Gateway is a Middleware solution, with which a central authentication against a LDAP or Active Directory and the access to all websites respectively portals is enabled. The product Comtarsia SignOn Gate takes over the automatic user management and password synchronization on all target domains and systems. The central web browser logon via the Comtarsia Web Gateway and the position of trust between the web applications and the Comtarsia Middleware enables a controlled access to all resources in the network with a high amount of security and comfort.

Through the automatic „Session Password Generation“ and the synchronization on the user database of the non PKI capable web portals the direct access to the web portal via password authentication is prohibited and only possible via the central LDAP password respectively via the Smart Card / Token logon.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

LDAP Directory Replicator

The Comtarsia LDAP directory replicator enables time-scheduled unidirectional replication of one or more LDAP directories on defined target-directories and target-systems.

Operated as autonomous server-solution, Comtarsia LDAP Directory Replicator can be applied for the replication of the entire LDAP realm or only for random OU's or objects.

In combination with the products Comtarsia Logon Client and Web Gateway, a synchronisation of complete user objects, groups and attribute on chosen target systems, independent of user logons, can be realised.

Download

Comtarsia software can be downloaded directly from their website.
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Download

Documentation

Comtarsia software documentation is located on their website:
http://signon.comtarsia.com/main/en/Manuals

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For more information, contact hedrick@rutgers.edu.
Last updated: Tuesday, 20-Jul-2010 14:55:51 EDT
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