30.4.4. Configuring a Proxy Domain

A proxy with SSSD is just a relay, an intermediary configuration. SSSD connects to its proxy service, and then that proxy loads the specified libraries. This allows SSSD to use some resources that it otherwise would not be able to use. For example, SSSD only supports LDAP and Kerberos as authentication providers, but using a proxy allows SSSD to use alternative authentication methods like a fingerprint scanner or smart card.

Table 30.7. Proxy Domain Configuration Parameters

Parameter Description
proxy_pam_target Specifies the target to which PAM must proxy as an authentication provider. The PAM target is a file containing PAM stack information in the default PAM directory, /etc/pam.d/.
This is used to proxy an authentication provider.

Important

Ensure that the proxy PAM stack does not recursively include pam_sss.so.
proxy_lib_name Specifies which existing NSS library to proxy identity requests through.
This is used to proxy an identity provider.

Example 30.4. Proxy Identity and Kerberos Authentication

The proxy library is loaded using the proxy_lib_name parameter. This library can be anything as long as it is compatible with the given authentication service. For a Kerberos authentication provider, it must be a Kerberos-compatible library, like NIS. 
[domain/PROXY_KRB5]
auth_provider = krb5
krb5_server = 192.168.1.1
krb5_realm = EXAMPLE.COM

id_provider = proxy
proxy_lib_name = nis
enumerate = true
cache_credentials = true

Example 30.5. LDAP Identity and Proxy Authentication

The proxy library is loaded using the proxy_pam_target parameter. This library must be a PAM module that is compatible with the given identity provider. For example, this uses a PAM fingerprint module with LDAP: 
[domain/LDAP_PROXY]
id_provider = ldap
ldap_uri = ldap://example.com
ldap_search_base = dc=example,dc=com

auth_provider = proxy
proxy_pam_target = sssdpamproxy
enumerate = true
cache_credentials = true
After the SSSD domain is configured, make sure that the specified PAM files are configured. In this example, the target is sssdpamproxy, so create a /etc/pam.d/sssdpamproxy file and load the PAM/LDAP modules: 
auth          required      pam_frprint.so
account       required      pam_frprint.so
password      required      pam_frprint.so
session       required      pam_frprint.so

Example 30.6. Proxy Identity and Authentication

SSSD can have a domain with both identity and authentication proxies. The only configuration given then are the proxy settings, proxy_pam_target for the authentication PAM module and proxy_lib_name for the service, like NIS or LDAP.
This example illustrates a possible configuration, but this is not a realistic configuration. If LDAP is used for identity and authentication, then both the identity and authentication providers should be set to the LDAP configuration, not a proxy. 
[domain/PROXY_PROXY]
auth_provider = proxy
id_provider = proxy
proxy_lib_name = ldap
proxy_pam_target = sssdproxyldap
enumerate = true 
cache_credentials = true
Once the SSSD domain is added, then update the system settings to configure the proxy service:
  1. Create an /etc/pam.d/sssdproxyldap file which requires the pam_ldap.so module: 
    auth          required      pam_ldap.so
account       required      pam_ldap.so
password      required      pam_ldap.so
session       required      pam_ldap.so
  2. Make sure the nss-pam-ldap package is installed. 
    [root@server ~]# yum install nss-pam-ldap
  3. Edit the /etc/nslcd.conf file, the configuration file for the LDAP name service daemon, to contain the information for the LDAP directory: 
    uid nslcd
gid ldap
uri ldaps://ldap.example.com:636
base dc=example,dc=com
ssl on
tls_cacertdir /etc/openldap/cacerts