Network Deployment (Distributed operating systems), v8.0 > Secure applications and their environment > Secure web services > Secure web services > Administer Web Services Security > Configure XML digital signature for v5.x web services with the administrative console > Configure nonce using Web Services Security tokens


Configure nonce for the cell level

Nonce is a randomly generated, cryptographic token used to prevent the theft of username tokens, which are used with SOAP messages. Nonce is used in conjunction with the basic authentication (BasicAuth) method. We can configure nonce for the cell level by using the WAS administrative console.

The information in this article supports Version 5.x applications only that are used with WAS v6.0.x and later. The information does not apply to v6 and later applications.

We can configure nonce at the application level, the server level, and cell level. However, consider the order of precedence:

  1. Application level
  2. Server level
  3. Cell level

If you configure nonce on the application level and the server level, the values specified for the application level take precedence over the values specified for the server level. Likewise, the values specified for the application level take precedence over the values specified for the server level and the cell level. In WAS ND, the Nonce cache timeout, Nonce maximum age, and Nonce clock skew fields are required to use nonce effectively. However, these fields are optional on the server level. Complete the following steps to configure nonce on the cell level:


Procedure

  1. Connect to the administrative console.

    Type http://localhost:port_number/ibm/console in your web browser unless we have changed the port number.

  2. Click Servers > Server Types > WebSphere application servers > server_name

  3. Under Security, click JAX-WS and JAX-RPC security runtime.

    Mixed-version environment: In a mixed node cell with a server using WAS version 6.1 or earlier, click Web services: Default bindings for Web Services Security.mixv

  4. Specify a value, in seconds, for the Nonce cache timeout field. The value specified for the Nonce cache timeout field indicates how long the nonce remains cached before it is expunged. We must specify a minimum of 300 seconds. However, if you do not specify a value, the default is 600 seconds. This field is optional on the server level, but required on the cell level.

  5. Specify a value, in seconds, for the Nonce maximum age field. The value specified for the Nonce maximum age field indicates how long the nonce is valid. We must specify a minimum of 300 seconds, but the value cannot exceed the number of seconds specified for the Nonce cache timeout field in the previous step. If you do not specify a value, the default is 600 seconds. In a WAS ND environment or on the z/OS platform, if you specify a value on the server level for the Nonce cache timeout field, the value cannot exceed the value specified for on the cell level for the Nonce cache timeout field. This field is optional on the server level, but required on the cell level

  6. Specify a value, in seconds, for the Nonce clock skew field. The value specified for the Nonce clock skew field specifies the amount of time, in seconds, to consider when the message receiver checks the freshness of the value. Consider the following information when you set this value:

    • Difference in time between the message sender and the message receiver if the clocks are not synchronized.
    • Time needed to encrypt and transmit the message.
    • Time needed to get through network congestion.

    At a minimum, specify 0 seconds in this field. However, the maximum value cannot exceed the number of seconds indicated in the Nonce maximum age field. If you do not specify a value, the default is 0 seconds. This field is optional on the server level but required on the cell level.

  7. Restart the server. If you change the Nonce cache timeout value and do not restart the server, the change is not recognized by the server.


Nonce, a randomly generated token
Configure nonce for the application level
Configure nonce for the server level
Configure nonce using Web Services Security tokens


Related


Default bindings and security runtime properties

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