Client IP based session validation in OpenAM

In Single Sign On (SSO), the cookie itself is the sole mode of validation for most systems.

With OpenAM, one can assign extra attributes to the session other than the cookie. Validation based on client IP addresses can be done as well. What this means is that, when the IP address changes of an user, the user has to login to OpenAM (or Relying Party/Service Provider )  again, since his session is no longer valid for the IP.

So this is how one would do this:

Go : Configuration -> Server & Sites -> Default server settings

 Then to advanced:

[OFF] An amazing person

Yesterday, I came in touch with an amazing person. Someone who has faced a lot of hardships in their life. It was striking, as to what all that person had faced and all because of love. I write about Love a lot. I like to believe that it is the greatest feeling of all, and if I may, the sole purpose of humanity and life.

This person was a different person now. Finally this person has come to terms with the life that has been given. From now on I will refer to this person as "L". Make no mistake, this is only a pseudonym, by which I have decided to refer this person as. Making assumptions on this person's age, gender, caste or color will get you no-where! It would also be wrong to assume that this person refers to myself, i.e., the author of this page, since, let me reiterate, this is only a pseudonym.

Now, let me continue.

"L" had never thought things would be the way they are. "L" always believed no matter what had happened, Love would triumph everything. It turns out, this assumption was wrong. It so happened that this love dis-integrated and brought out the worst in "L". Days never seemed worse. Nights never seemed scarier. It was a dark time. Even the rains had shunned her. She had become a stranger to herself. It was almost as if she had lost touch with herself. The real "L".

The life she led was filled with smiles and happiness all around. She was like a desert inside in the middle of the ocean. The nights were the worst. When everything was quiet all around it would seem like her existence did not matter. It was so deathly quiet that she could hear hes own tears flow down. She could hear her heart beating very slowly. Blood oozing out of her at times. She could hear the deathly frozen feelings inside her.

What had become of "L"? All I can say now is that, "L" was sick. She is fine now. The doctors have done a great job. Inspired by a certain Mithoon Chakraborty movie, the doctors have cured this person. Maybe not as advanced as a brain transplant, but it worked.

Sometimes, it so happens that, "L" wishes to go back. To do it all over again. Surely the mistakes will not be repeated. Surely this ship would not sink all over again. Surely. Then the boulder of doubt hits her and she snaps out of this imaginary construction in her dreams. Realization dawns upon "L", that things can never be the same again. The past has, made "L" wiser and it has contributed to whatever is to become of "L".

I am so glad I met this person.

[OFF] Shingara Dadu

When I was very young, about 6 or 7 maybe, I remember having a visitor at home. A friend of my grandfather whom I referred to as "Shingara Dadu" in Bangla. Translated to English that means, well, "Shingara"-Grandfather.

What is a "Shingara" you ask?

That is a "Shingara", or samosa, when translated to Hindi.

Does that mean he had some super "Shingara" powers? Did I bite him and come to this conclusion that his skin tastes like "Shingara"?

Apart from the fact that I was not not a cannibal (and probably am not now) let me tell you in all honesty that this nomenclature was done by me on the basis of pure love.

In my home, we had a tradition that whenever a guest would come during a Puja, we would serve them "Shingara"s and "Mishti" (Sweets). Since he would come just after a Puja, these Shingaras would be given to him. However, sometimes, he would come when none of these servings would be available. All I could offer him was some imaginary "Shingaras".

Yes, imaginary. I would cook them up and serve it to him, in my imaginary yet well stocked kitchen, which he would graciously accept. He would pretend to eat them as well, praising the fine taste and cooking prowess it had required.

He carried a walking stick with him and wore black specs with thick glasses. He was lean and tall, around 5 feet 11. He would talk slowly and softly. I remember.

One day, he died.

I was pissed off. Who would eat my "Shingaras" now? I hated him so much for that.

I realised much later what that meant. It was not his fault he did not come. His time was over. My "Shingaras" had killed him. I never give my imaginary "Shingaras" to anybody else now.

I dismantled my kitchen.

PS: I only play Kitchen Scramble now.

Omniauth OpenAM Gem

Hello people, here's presenting a brand new gem!

For folks, who think they hit a jackpot, think ruby. Yeah, well, this is an omniauth gem for Ruby on Rails people for openam. There has been an outstanding request for this gem on the requests page and here it is:

https://github.com/rghose/omniauth-openam

You can get the full list of omniauth gems here:

https://github.com/intridea/omniauth/wiki/List-of-Strategies

For those who are still confused, omniauth is one of the marvels of ruby which provides options for authentication options to devise based on external providers. I am still a newbie here, so pardon me please.