4.2. Configuring Single Sign-On for Virtual Machines

Configuring single sign-on, also known as password delegation, allows you to automatically log in to a virtual machine using the credentials you use to log in to the VM Portal. Single sign-on can be used on both Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows virtual machines.

Note

Single sign-on is not supported for virtual machines running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0.

Important

If single sign-on to the VM Portal is enabled, single sign-on to virtual machines will not be possible. With single sign-on to the VM Portal enabled, the VM Portal does not need to accept a password, thus the password cannot be delegated to sign in to virtual machines.

4.2.1. Configuring Single Sign-On for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Virtual Machines Using IPA (IdM)

To configure single sign-on for Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual machines using GNOME and KDE graphical desktop environments and IPA (IdM) servers, you must install the ovirt-guest-agent package on the virtual machine and install the packages associated with your window manager.

Important

The following procedure assumes that you have a working IPA configuration and that the IPA domain is already joined to the Manager. You must also ensure that the clocks on the Manager, the virtual machine and the system on which IPA (IdM) is hosted are synchronized using NTP.

Note

Single sign-on with IPA (IdM) is deprecated for virtual machines running Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 7 or earlier and unsupported for virtual machines running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 or Windows operating systems.

Configuring Single Sign-On for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Virtual Machines

  1. Log in to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual machine.

  2. Enable the repository:

    • For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6: 

      # subscription-manager repos --enable=rhel-6-server-rhv-4-agent-rpms

    • For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7: 

      # subscription-manager repos --enable=rhel-7-server-rh-common-rpms

  3. Download and install the guest agent, single sign-on, and IPA packages: 

    # yum install ovirt-guest-agent-common ovirt-guest-agent-pam-module ovirt-guest-agent-gdm-plugin ipa-client

  4. Run the following command and follow the prompts to configure ipa-client and join the virtual machine to the domain: 

    # ipa-client-install --permit --mkhomedir
    Note

    In environments that use DNS obfuscation, this command should be: 

    # ipa-client-install --domain=FQDN --server=FQDN

  5. For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 and later: 

    # authconfig --enablenis --update
    Note

    Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 has a new version of the System Security Services Daemon (SSSD), which introduces configuration that is incompatible with the Red Hat Virtualization Manager guest agent single sign-on implementation. This command ensures that single sign-on works.

  6. Fetch the details of an IPA user: 

    # getent passwd ipa-user

  7. Record the IPA user’s UID and GID: 

    ipa-user:*:936600010:936600001::/home/ipa-user:/bin/sh

  8. Create a home directory for the IPA user: 

    # mkdir /home/ipa-user

  9. Assign ownership of the directory to the IPA user: 

    # chown 936600010:936600001 /home/ipa-user

Log in to the VM Portal using the user name and password of a user configured to use single sign-on and connect to the console of the virtual machine. You will be logged in automatically.

4.2.2. Configuring single sign-on for Windows virtual machines

To configure single sign-on for Windows virtual machines, the Windows guest agent must be installed on the guest virtual machine. The virtio-win ISO image provides this agent. If the virtio-win_version.iso image is not available in your storage domain, contact your system administrator.

Procedure

  1. Select the Windows virtual machine. Ensure the machine is powered up.
  2. On the virtual machine, locate the CD drive and open the CD.
  3. Launch virtio-win-guest-tools.
  4. Click Options
  5. Select Install oVirt Guest Agent.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Install.
  8. When the installation completes, you are prompted to restart the machine to apply the changes.

Log in to the VM Portal using the user name and password of a user configured to use single sign-on and connect to the console of the virtual machine. You will be logged in automatically.

4.2.3. Disabling Single Sign-on for Virtual Machines

The following procedure explains how to disable single sign-on for a virtual machine.

Disabling Single Sign-On for Virtual Machines

  1. Select a virtual machine and click Edit.
  2. Click the Console tab.
  3. Select the Disable Single Sign On check box.
  4. Click OK.