SAML Single Sign-On (SSO) into Canvas using Joomla as IDP

Single Sign-On in Canvas LMS using Joomla IDP allows users to log in to Canvas LMS using Joomla by configuring Canvas LMS as a Service Provider (SP) and Joomla as a SAML Identity Provider (IDP). This guide will take you through a step-by-step process to configure SSO between the two platforms.

What is Canvas LMS?
Canvas simplifies course management tasks: publishing course materials, grading, communicating with students, and more. Students can use Canvas to access course content, submit assignments anytime, anywhere and collaborate with peers and instructors.

Pre-requisites: Download And Installation

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Install Joomla IDP Plugin

• Download the zip file for the miniOrange Joomla IDP plugin.
• Log into your Joomla site’s administrator console.
• From left toggle menu, click on System, then under Install section click on Extensions.

• Upload the downloaded zip file to install the Joomla IDP plugin.

• Installation of the plugin is successful. Now click on Start Using miniOrange SAML IDP Plugin to configure miniOrange Joomla IDP plugin.

Steps to configure Canvas LMS SSO with Joomla as IDP.

1. Configure Canvas LMS as Service Provider

• Go to the miniOrange Joomla IDP plugin, navigate to the Identity Provider tab.
• Here, you can find the Identity Provider Metadata XML URL/File or endpoints like IDP Entity ID, SAML Login URL, SAML Logout URL (Premium Feature), and Certificate for SP configuration. Download the XML Metadata by clicking on the button as shown below.

• Login to your Canvas LMS domain as an Account Administrator.
• Switch to Admin view by clicking on the corresponding link from the bottom of the screen.
• Select Admin from the left pane and select the domain for which you wish to enable Single Sign-On.

• Click on Authentication in the left pane and navigate to SAML.

• Enter the values by referring to the table below.

IDP Metadata URI	Enter the Metadata URL that points to the metadata document.
IDP Entity ID	Enter the IDP Entity value that you got from the previous step.
Log On URL	Enter the SAML Login URL that you got from the previous step.
Log Out URL	Enter the SAML Logout URL(Premium feature) that you got from the previous step.
Certificate Fingerprint	Follow the steps below to copy the Thumbprint of certificate: 1. Download the certificate from Joomla SAML IDP >> Identity Provider Tab >> Click here to download the certificate. 2. Copy the downloaded certificate. 3. Visit the link https://www.samltool.com/fingerprint.php and paste the copied certificate. 4. Choose the algorithm SHA1 and click on the Calculate Fingerprint button.
Login Attribute	NameID
Identifier Format	Select urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress from the dropdown list.
Authentication Context	Select urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:ac:classes: PasswordProtectedTransport from the dropdown list.
Message Signing	Select the algorithm to use for signing Request messages sent to the IdP. For now select Not Signed.
Just In Time Provisioning	If checked then it automatically create a user account in your Canvas LMS if its the first time a user logs in with single sign-on (SSO).


• Click Save to complete the configuration.

2. Configure Joomla as Identity Provider

• Now go to Components miniOrange Joomla IDP Service Provider

• Navigate to the Service Provider tab and complete the fields for Service Provider Name, SP Entity ID or Issuer, ACS URL, and NameID Format. Refer to this step to get Service Provider details. Fill in the other fields according to your requirements. Click on Save.

Enter the following values:

Service Provider Name	Choose appropriate name according to your choice.
SP Entity ID or Issuer	Service Provider Entity ID.
ACS URL	SP Assertion Consumer Service URL.
X.509 Certificate (optional) [For Signed Request]	Paste certificate value you copied from the Metadata file.
NameID Format	Select urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress.
Assertion Signed	Checked.


• Now click on Advance Mapping tab. Select the NameID Attribute and then click on Save Button.


You have successfully completed your miniOrange SAML 2.0 IDP configurations.

3. Attribute Mapping (Premium Feature)

• In the miniOrange Joomla IDP plugin, navigate to the Advance Mapping tab.
• Here, you can configure Custom attribute mapping and also add additional User Attributes.

You have successfully configured Single Sign-On with Canvas LMS as Service Provider and Joomla as Identity Provider. If you require any further support or, if you are facing any difficulty please mail us on joomlasupport@xecurify.com

Free Trial

If you would like to test out the plugin to ensure your business use case is fulfilled, we do provide a 7-day trial. Please drop us an email at joomlasupport@xecurify.com requesting a trial. You can create an account with us using this link.

Additional Resources.

• What is Single Sign-On (SSO)
• What is SAML?
• Additional SAML IDP guides
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)