13. Applications¶
Creating and configuring token-based authentication for external applications is available starting in Ansible Tower 3.3. This makes it easier for external applications such as ServiceNow and Jenkins to integrate with Ansible Tower. OAuth 2 allows you to use tokens to share certain data with an application without disclosing login information, and furthermore, these tokens can be scoped as “read-only”. In Tower, you create an application that is representative of the external application you are integrating with, then use it to create tokens for that application to use on behalf of the users of the external application.
Having these Tower-issued tokens associated to an application resource gives you the ability to manage all tokens issued for a particular application more easily. By separating token issuance under Applications, you can revoke all tokens based on the Application without having to revoke all tokens in the system.
When integrating an external web app with Ansible Tower that web app may need to create OAuth2 Tokens on behalf of users in that other web app. Creating an application in Tower with the Authorization Code grant type is the preferred way to do this because:
external applications can obtain a token from Tower for users, using their credentials
compartmentalized tokens issued for a particular application, allows those tokens to be easily managed (revoke all tokens associated with that application, for example)
13.1. Getting Started with Applications¶
Access the Applications page by clicking the Applications (
) icon from the left navigation bar. The Applications page displays a search-able list of all available Applications currently managed by Tower and can be sorted by Name.
If no other applications exist, only a gray box with a message to add applications displays.
13.2. Create a new application¶
Token-based authentication for users can be configured in the Applications window.
In the Ansible Tower User Interface, click the Applications (
) icon from the left navigation bar.
The Applications window opens.
Click the
button located in the upper right corner of the Applications window.
The New Application window opens.
Enter the following details in Create New Application window:
Name (required): provide a name for the application you want to create
Description: optionally provide a short description for your application
Organization (required): provide an organization for which this application is associated
Authorization Grant Type (required): Select from one of the grant types to use in order for the user to acquire tokens for this application. Refer to grant types in the Applications section of the Ansible Tower Administration Guide.
Redirect URIS: Provide a list of allowed URIs, separated by spaces. This is required if you specified the grant type to be Authorization code.
Client Type (required): Select the level of security of the client device
When done, click Save or Cancel to abandon your changes
13.2.1. Applications - Tokens¶
Selecting the Tokens view displays a list of the users that have tokens to access the application.
Tokens can only access resources that its associated user can access, and can be limited further by specifying the scope of the token.
13.2.1.1. Add Tokens¶
Tokens are added through the Users screen and can be associated with an application at that time. Specifying an application can be performed directly in the User’s token settings. You can create a token for your user in the Tokens configuration tab, meaning only you can create and see your tokens in your own user screen. To add a token:
Access the Users list view by clicking the Users (
) icon from the left navigation bar then click on your user to configure your OAuth 2 tokens.
Note
You can only create OAuth 2 Tokens for your user via the API or UI, which means you can only access your own user profile in order to configure or view your tokens. If you are an admin and need to create or remove tokens for other users, see the revoke and create commands in the Token and session management section of the Ansible Tower Administration Guide.
Click the Tokens tab from your user’s profile.
When no tokens are present, the Tokens screen prompts you to add them:
Click the
button, which opens the Create Token window.Enter the following details in Create Token window:
Application: enter the name of the application with which you want to associate your token. Alternatively, you can search for it by clicking the
button. This opens a separate window that allows you to choose from the available options. Use the Search bar to filter by name if the list is extensive. Leave this field blank if you want to create a Personal Access Token (PAT) that is not linked to any application.
Description: optionally provide a short description for your token.
Scope (required): specify the level of access you want this token to have.
When done, click Save or Cancel to abandon your changes.
After the token is saved, the newly created token for the user displays with the token information and when it expires.
Note
This is the only time the token value and associated refresh token value will ever be shown.
In the user’s profile, the application for which it is assigned to and its expiration displays in the token list view.
To verify the application in the example above now shows the user with the appropriate token, go to the Tokens tab of the Applications window:
