Plug-in types supported by AR System

You can create the following types of plug-ins that are supported by AR System:

  • AR System External Authentication (AREA)—AR System uses AREA plug-ins to authenticate the identity of users. AREA plug-ins access network directory services or other authentication services to verify usernames and passwords.

Best Practice

When using an AREA plug-in, you do not have to maintain duplicate user authentication data in the AR System directories because the AR System can access user identification information from external sources. However, if you have users with fixed licenses or users who use applications, you must maintain user authentication data in AR System directories because users must exist in the User form for the license tracking feature and for the applications. For more information, see AREA-plug-ins.

Related topics

Installed-plug-in-components

Getting started (BMC Helix Single Sign-On)

A ready-to-use BMC Helix Single Sign-On plug-in is available for single sign-on, which integrates the AR System and the BMC Helix Single Sign-On server. The plug-in authenticates the user against the BMC Helix Single Sign-On server by calling the BMC Helix Single Sign-On APIs. For more information, see Getting started.

  • AR System

     Database Connectivity (ARDBC)—ARDBC plug-ins enable AR System to access data stored in external sources. You can integrate ARDBC with the external data sources through their APIs. ARDBC plug-ins, which you can access through vendor forms, enable you to perform the following tasks:

    • Search external data sources
    • Create, delete, modify, and set entries in external data sources
    • Populate search-style character menus from external data sources
    • Implement workflow that accesses external data sources 

    For more information, see ARDBC-plug-ins. For information about vendor forms, see Creating-vendor-forms.

  • AR System Filter (AR Filter)—AR Filter API plug-ins are used when server-side workflow objects (such as filters and escalations) reference filter API calls. AR Filter API plug-ins offer an alternative method to send information requests to and from external servers. AR Filter uses fewer system resources than Run processes use and enables the AR System to return to its workflow faster. For more information, see AR-Filter-API-plug-ins.

    AR Systemalso offers two ready-to-use Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) plug-ins. For more information, see Configuring-the-AREA-LDAP-plug-in and Configuring-the-ARDBC-LDAP-plug-in.

For more information about the plug-in components, see Installed-plug-in-components.
The following image shows the AR System plug-in architecture:
22_1_plug_in_architecture.png

The arrows in this figure identify the directions in which each program or process can initiate API function calls. Data can flow in any direction.

 

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