RubyCAS-Server

RubyCAS-Server is a web application single sign-on solution that implements the server-end of JA-SIG's CAS protocol. This allows for single sign-on authentication for multiple web applications running under various frameworks such as Java, Rails or PHP. This means that your CAS server provides the login page where the user enters their username and password for centralized authentication, similarly to major portal sites like Yahoo and Google. After successful authentication, the server dishes out 'service tickets' that grant access to the various CAS-protected services. The user only sees the login page once and gains access to all other services.

The greatest advantage of RubyCAS-Server is its ease of use and customization. It is easy to set up and does not require any specific knowledge of Ruby to run the server. The front-end can be customized using CSS, and the method for validating usernames and passwords can be configured to use an existing SQL Database, Active Directory, LDAP server, etc. For more information on the CAS protocol, you can refer to the official JA-SIG CAS page.

In order to make your web applications CAS-protected, each service will need to be configured. This is typically done by installing a CAS client library that acts as a standard controller filter. For example for a Ruby on Rails application, you'll have to install RubyCAS-Client. For PHP, install esup-phpcas and include a small block of code, while for Java-based frameworks, you'll have to install the Java CAS Client and add some XML to your app server's configuration. The JA-SIG CAS clients page provides information on clients for other frameworks such as .NET, Perl, Zope, ColdFusion, etc.

In conclusion, RubyCAS-Server is an easy-to-use tool that provides a centralized authentication solution for web applications, ensuring that each service remains secure without hindering the user experience. It is highly customizable and works well with multiple frameworks, making it a great option for businesses of all sizes.