Moodle 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. Here we will go through a step-by-step guide to configure Single Sign-On (SSO) between DNN and Moodle 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 Moodle as SP

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

• 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.

• Also you can add the IDP metadata manually by entering IDP Entity ID, Single Sign-On URL and x.509 Certificate:

• We will go through the steps to setup Moodle as a Service Provider. Here, we will be adding the IdP metadata to configure the plugin.

There are two ways to configure the plugin:

A] By uploading IDP metadata:

• Click on the Upload IDP metadata button.
• Enter the Identity Provider Name.
• You can copy and paste the IdP metadata XML file and click on the Upload Metadata button or use a metadata URL and click on Fetch Metadata.


B] Manual Configuration:

• Provide the required settings (i.e. Identity Provider Name, IdP Entity ID or Issuer, SAML Login URL, X.509 Certificate) as provided by your Identity Provider.
• Click on the Save button to save your configuration.


You have successfully configured Moodle 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 Moodle. Refer to the table below.



Service Provider Name	Name of your Service Provider.
SP Entity ID or Issuer	Copy and paste the SP-EntityID from Moodle..
ACS URL	Copy and paste the ACS URL from Moodle.
X.509 Certificate (optional)	[For Signed Request]Paste certificate value you copied from the Moodle Metadata file.
NameID Format	urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.1:nameid-format:emailAddress
Response Signed	Unchecked.
Assertion Signed	Checked.
Encrypted Assertion	Unchecked.

• 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 Moodle 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 Moodle 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 Moodle.

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