[THIN] Re: Web Interface - login process

Hi Angela,

Admitted, it takes a while to sink in and makes sense ;-)

The Zone Data collector (ZDC) "talks" to other Citrix servers using the IMA
protocol on TCP ports 2512. Port 2512 is used for solely for communication
between servers in the farm and port 2513 for CMC/PSC (management console)
to Citrix server. Then there's server to license server on TCP port 27000
and server to datastore, which varies depending on the database (access [tcp
2512], local msde/sql express 2005 [tcp 2512], SQL [varies], Oracle
[varies]).

The ZDC doesn't actually "talk" to WI from the viewpoint that WI does the
talking and initializes the comms link, the ZDC only answers.

If you have an external VPN appliance like your Cisco, it'll handle the SSL
side of things and the client connection to WI will still be to port 80,
since the client connection will be tunneling through the VPN connection.

If the only access to WI is via VPN, then there isn't a lot of value in
using SSL encryption with WI and between WI in the DMZ and the internal
components. Setting up the ceriticates and SSL encryption etc is not for the
faint. hearted.

regards,

Rick

 Ulrich Mack
www.commander.com (until the end of this week)


On 2/26/08, Angela Smith <angela_smith9@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Hi Rick
>
> I actually did read the SDK documentation but unfortunately it went over
> my head.  Im getting a better understanding of whats going on under the hood
> with everyones explanations.
>
> My Zone  Data Collector is also the XML Broker.  I have 1 question
> outstanding:
>
> 1) The Zone Data Collector communicates with other Citrix Servers, Web
> Interface and also the client (as per my flowchart diagram).  What port does
> it use for all this?  Is it Port 80?  If the WI had SSL would all the
> communication be 443?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Angela
>
>  ------------------------------
> Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:13:51 +1000
> From: ulrich.mack@xxxxxxxxx
> To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [THIN] Re: Web Interface - login process
>
>  Hi Angela,
>
> I'd again recommend you read the WI SDK documentation, in particular
> concerning the Authentication Sequence. This will give you a much better
> understanding of how WI handles authentication.
>
> In a nutshell, WI extracts the login credentials from the login page, and
> uses the WebPN method checkAcessToken to contact the XML service on what
> you've termed the XML broker to verify if the credentials are valid. As far
> as AD authentication goes, that happens from the Citrix server being used as
> the XML "broker".
>
> The XML "broker" can be any one of the Citrix servers that you have added
> to the Farm list in the WI configuration. WI will use the first server on
> the list, which is optimally your zone data collector. There is nothing
> special about the XML broker, it is simply whichever Citrix server that
> happpens to be used by WI at that time.
>
> Unless you're going to put your Citrix servers into the DMZ as well, the
> ports used for authentication really don't matter all that much.
> Nevertheless, just out of interest, the ports that could be used for
> authentication alone in a 2003 native AD are:
>
>    - TCP/UDP 88 : Kerberos V
>    - TCP/UDP 53 : DNS - find DC
>    - TCP/UDP 389 : LDAP
>
> This is ignoring the ports for RPC endpoint (TCP 135),  netbios/SMB (TCP
> 139/445), and the fact you might be using RSA or
> Safeword token authentication which will require additional ports opened for
> WI to talk either to the ACE server or AD.
>
> regards,
>
> Rick
>
> Ulrich Mack
> www.commander.com (until the end of this week)
>
> On 2/26/08, *Angela Smith* <angela_smith9@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> Hi
>
> Im still trying to work out what ports get used during Citrix logon.
> Ive attached a PowerPoint slide that shows the main
> communication flow.  I have a few questions I was hoping you could assist
> with:
>
>
> 1) How do I determine what server is the XML Broker?
>
> 2) What ports does the XML Broker use to talk to:
>        - Active Directory
>        - Licensing Server (27000 Im assuming)
>        - Data Collector
>        - Least Loaded Server
>        - Client
>
> Our Web Interface does not have a certificate so all communication
> internally is on Port 80.  Does Port 80 get used for all communication from
> the XML Broker?  Can anyone let me know what ports are used in question 2
>
> Thanks
> Angela
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
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-- 
Ulrich Mack
www.commander.com

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