SSO setup with Blackboard using Drupal IdP

This document will help you configure Blackboard as a Service Provider (SP) making Drupal as your Identity Provider (IDP). Following these steps will allow you to configure SAML SSO between Blackboard and your Drupal site such that your users will be able to log in to Blackboard using their Drupal credentials.

The Drupal SAML SSO - Identity Provider module is compatible with Drupal 7, Drupal 8, Drupal 9, Drupal 10, and Drupal 11.

Prerequisite:

• Install and activate the SAML SSO - Identity Provider module on your Drupal site. Click here to check out the module installation step.

Drupal SAML IDP Metadata:

• After installing the module on your Drupal site, in the Administration menu, navigate to Configuration → People → miniOrange SAML IDP Configuration. (/admin/config/people/miniorange_saml_idp/idp_setup)

  

• Under the IDP Metadata tab, copy the Metadata URL. Keep it handy(This is needed to configure Blackboard as SAML SP).

  

Configure SAML SSO Application in Blackboard LMS:

• Login to Blackboard with the administrator credentials.
• Go to System Admin → Authentication.
• Select Create Provider → SAML.

• Enter the following information in below text-field:

  Name	Enter name as per your choice
  Authentication Provider	Set as Active
  User Lookup Method	Enter Username
  Restrict by Hostname	Select Use this provider for any host name
  Link Text	Type appropriate link text.

• Select Save and Configure button.

• In the Single Logout Service Type, Enable the checkboxes next to Post and Redirect. Click on the Generate button to download Blackboard SP metadata file Keep it handy (This will be required to configure Drupal as SAML IDP).

  

• Select the Data Source for which SSO must be enabled from the given drop-down.

  

• Select Identity Provider Type as a Identity Federation.

• In the Discovery Service URL, enter the Metadata URL from Drupal site. Select Name ID for the Remote User ID.

  

Configure Drupal as SAML Identity Provider (IdP):

• Navigate to the Drupal site and switch to the Service Provider Setup tab of the miniOrange SAML IDP module and click on the Upload SP metadata to expand it.

  

• Now upload the metadata file in Upload a metadata file text field which was downloaded from Blackboard SSO Application. Click the Fetch Metadata button.

  

• Once the file is successfully uploaded you will get a success message. Now, click on the Test link.

  

You have successfully set up Blackboard as Service Provider and Drupal as Identity Provider.

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