I am learning Jenkins and i am using version 1.605. I am learning about setting security options in jenkins. I found below options in jenkins configure global security page under the security realms:-
Delegate to servlet container
Jenkins'own user database
LDAP
I want to understand in which scenario, which option should be used?Please help me understand.
The "servlet container" refers to the web server that you are using to host Jenkins, typically Tomcat. The configuration file $CATALINA_BASE/conf/tomcat-users.xml may already be set up and managed by your organization. In this case: "why reinvent the wheel?". Use this if your organization already has a process that manages the Tomcat users configuration. This is also probably the most archaic solution.
The "own user database" is just what it sound like. Instead of relying on something else, Jenkins keeps it's own database of users. You can create and delete users through the Jenkins UI. You can even let new users sign up right from UI. If you don't know what to use, use this one. It's simple and self-contained.
The "LDAP" provides integration with LDAP/ Windows Active Directory. If you are in a corporate/small business environment that already utilizes LDAP for maintaining users and groups, it will be very beneficial to hook into that and off-load user management to the IT team that manages LDAP/AD. Note that unless you are that IT admin, you will need to contact the said admins for connection information/credentials to the LDAP/AD
Slav did a very clear answer.
If you choose the option 2 or 3, you can use the Role Stragegy plugin to create application roles and assign roles to Jenkins users, LDAP users or LDAP static/virtual groups.
If you have a lot of users, this plugin can save your life to assign permissions :)
Related
I have a server where Jenkins is configured and running as a service. My team is of 8 people who access the Jenkins via browser for performing deployments on demand.
How do get the System properties like the Username or the host name of the System where the Jenkins is accessed.
How do i configure the job so that i get to know who performed the deployment?
NOTE: I do not want to create users for all of them and provide credentials. There will be a unique credentials and everyone uses the same.
Regards
Kaushik
I think there is no way around to create different Users or use #Ian w suggestion.
If you stick to your idea to use only One credential for all user you should consider setting a Parameter Choice for everyone of your 8 People. So everyone pick his/her Name when he/she Starts a Job.
Take a looks at https://st-g.de/2016/12/parametrized-jenkins-pipelines
What is the benefit of implementing Active Directory based Security to servers like Jenkins?
The only benefit I can think is the admin of the sever does not need to add/remove users because user can login themselves using AD credential.
But In my case I do not want to have the whole company access my server. the server is only used by my team. How can I disable the whole company from login in. (case1)
Besides, I want to grant different permissions to different members in my team. The new members get less permission, the experienced team members get more permissions. I believe this is very common. But using Active Directory based Security looks like they get the same permission because they are in the same groups (case2)
So why should I use Active Directory based Security? Can I resolve the above two cases in a server configured with Active Directory based Security?
Some corporate environments make this a security requirement. In said environments they usually have an internal request system where users can request they have their credentials added to an appropriate group for access to Jenkins. This is better than Jenkins own database and having them email you, the Jenkins administrator.
Once AD Authentication is configured in Jenkins and appropriate groups created in AD you can do a one-time setup of those groups with the Role-Based Strategy plugin in Jenkins and define what those groups have authorization to do.
Plan your groups well and it is a function that you will no longer have to worry about.
Warning: Be very careful when switching over from Jenkins own database user authentication to AD authentication. If you don't get the BindDN details just right you can get locked out.
The purpose is to create a local user in jenkins(granting admin rights) along side the LDAP group authentication so that this "local" user can perform all admin actions whenever the LDAP authentication is not working.
I can set up active directory user(valid users with a valid id), but i want to explore the possibility of setting up "local" jenkins user
I tried to figure this out through JENKINS JIRA but there is no mention of jenkins local user.
Can anyone help me figure this out.
You can't.
When you activate LDAP authentication, you automatically disable Jenkins' internal user database. Both cannot co-exist.
I agree with the accepted answer in that Jenkins does not currently appear to support the simultaneous use of internal authentication and LDAP authentication.
That said, what I do to work around this is:
Run a local copy (i.e. on the Jenkins system itself) of slapd
Configure Jenkins with LDAP authentication, and point him to both my local LDAP directory and our organization's directory
See screenshots:
By doing so, I'm able to create (within the local LDAP instance) a handful of service accounts, and also utilize my org's LDAP authentication for everything else. (On a side note, I use the "Project-based Matrix Authorization Strategy" to manage authz.)
Setting up a local directory is more effort at the outset, but it solves the problem you are describing -- at least until a better solution is available.
There is an improvement filed here to support local users and LDAP users at the same time: https://issues.jenkins-ci.org/browse/JENKINS-3404
Active Directory Plugin has an option for a fallback user since V2.5
I am setting up a Jenkins instance to run static-code-analysis for many projects. Each projects, on their own, create their code-analysis-jobs with their SCM and branches. I have the Role Strategy Plugin plugin installed but struck configuring the system with the below criteria.
The project leads should be able to signup the Jenkins and create/view/modify/run the jobs they only created. (Is it possible for this lead-role user to create user of developer role?)
The developers can view/build the jobs which they have privileges.
The project leads can assign the developers with jobs they can view/run.
How to do this, if at all possible? If not, how other ways you all do it considering the Jenkins to allow users signup, create/manage/run only their jobs (securing the jobs from other users)? (Also, the signed user should not be allowed to administer the Jenkins)
EDIT-1: I have an admin role (myself) user who has the all privileges to configure the system, but the admin to perform the role assignment of every user who signup.
The Role Strategy Plugin should suffice your request.
It even has regex pattern based setting where a user can only see certain projects.
I have been using this plugin extensively and its really helpful.
I am after a better solution for security in Jenkins. After my play around this space, my current solution is to implement the 'Project-based Matrix Authorization Strategy'. I was previously considering running Jenkins behind Apache and control security through Apache. But during my trial with matrix based security, I was able to assign full access to logged in users and block anonymous users from seeing anything on the dashboard except login-page.
Before I proceed with my beta servers, I would like to seek experts advice to understand what I am doing is correct ?or there is a better way to do this. At the moment I have around 30 users created in my system.
If matrix based solution is the best and easiest, I would like to know,
1) Is it possible to group users and assign access based on groups ? So that I don't have to give users on individual basis
2) I also saw a post about 'Role strategy plug-in', but I couldn't see that in my Jenkins. Not sure if this plug-in out of date and/or nomore supported
Thanks in advance.
I'm using the Role Strategy plugin with a LDPA directory and it works well.
You just have to install this plugin on your Jenkins server and to switch from "Matrix-based security" to "Role-Based Strategy".
Next, you will be able to define roles:
And assign them to users (or LDAP groups, if you have a LDAP directory):