Canvas LMS SAML Single Sign-On using DNN SAML as IDP

DotNetNuke (DNN) SAML IDP module acts as a SAML 2.0 Identity Provider which can be configured to establish the trust between the module and various SAML-compliant service providers to securely authenticate the user using the DotNetNuke (DNN) site credentials. miniOrange provides a ready to use solution for SAML 2.0 Login using DotNetNuke credentials. Here we will go through a step-by-step guide to configure Single Sign-On (SSO) between DNN and Canvas LMS considering DNN as IDP. To know more about the other features we provide, click here.

Pre-requisites : Download And Installation

• Download DNN SAML Identity Provider (IDP) module.
• Upload the installation package dnn-saml-single-sign-on-sso-idp_xxx_Install by going in Settings > Extension > Install Extension.

• Open any of the page on your DNN site (Edit mode) and Click on Add Module.

• Search for moDNNSAMLIDP and click on the moDNNSAMLIDP. Drag and drop the module on the page where you want.

• You have finished with the Installation of the module on your DNN site.

1. Configure Canvas LMS as SP

• From the list of service providers given below, select Canvas.

• There are two options in the module to share your IDP metadata to the service provider. Either you can share metadata URL or you can download the metadata (XML) file.

• Login to your Canvas LMS domain as an Account Administrator.
• Click on Admin.
• Go to Authentication.

• On the top right side, you will see Add an Identity Provider. From the dropdown, Select SAML.

• Copy the metadata URL copied from step 1 under the IDP metadata URL section.
• Change Authentication Context to urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:ac:classes:unspecified
• Enable Just in Time Provisioning if you need the feature.
• Under the Current providers section, you can see your IDP configured.

• Now let's try SSO using: https://your_canvas_domain/login/saml

You have successfully configured Canvas LMS as Service Provider.

2. Configure DNN as SAML IDP

• There are two options to add an application for your Service Provider in the IDP module

A] Upload metadata using Upload SP Metadata option

• IDP module requires SP Entity ID and ACS URL values from your service provider. You may get the metadata file (.xml) or metadata URL.
• You can upload metadata using Upload SP Metadata option where you can upload metadata using XML file or URL.
• You may refer to the screenshot below:

• You can choose any one of the options according to the metadata format you have available.

B] Configure the Service Provider metadata manually



• Enter the values corresponding to the information from Canvas LMS. Refer to the table below.



Canvas LMS	Name of your Service Provider.
SP Entity ID or Issuer	Copy and paste the SP-EntityID from Canvas.
ACS URL	Copy and paste the ACS URL from Canvas.
NameID Format	urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress
Assertion Signed	Checked

• Once configured service provider metadata, Update the module settings

3. Attribute Mapping

• In this steps you will map the DotNetNuke user attribute to be sent in the response to the Service Provider.
• NameID defines what SP is expecting in the subject element of SAML Assertion. Generally, NameID is Username or Email Address. You can select which user attribute you want to send in the NameID.
• You can add other attributes to be sent in SAML Assertion to SP. The attributes include user’s profile attributes such as first name, last name, fullname, username, email, custom profile attributes etc.

4. Testing SSO

• In the Incognito browser window, enter the Canvas LMS URL.
• The browser will redirect you to the DNN Login screen.
• Enter the DNN Credentials and click on Log in.
• If you are redirected back to your Canvas LMS start page and logged in successfully, then your configuration is correct.

You have successfully configured DNN as SAML IDP ( Identity Provider) for achieving DNN SSO login into your Canvas LMS.

You can configure the DNN SAML IDP module with any service provider such as Azure AD, Azure B2C, Google Apps, Zoho Desk, Salesforce, WordPress, Cognito, Moodle, Zapier, Zoho, Zoom, Tableau Server, Hubspot, TalentLMS, WSO2 or even with your own custom service providers. You can find more service providers here.

Additional Resources

• ASP.NET SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)
• DNN SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)
• nopCommerce SAML Single Sign-On (SSO)
• DNN REST API Authentication
• Web3 login for ASP.NET Applications