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Configuring a extranet/intranet Sharepoint site behind ISA with Forms-Based Authentication and SSL

I am working on a very specific configuration for a Sharepoint site, so my question will also be very specific. Here's the requirement: I am trying to create a Sharepoint site with the front and several sub pages available publicly on the internet. Then, I need users to click Sign-In, and authenticate with their Active Directory ID's (which are already created). Upon login, they will have various levels of access to private team sites AND the ability to manage content of the private and public areas.

Here's the issue: the server sits behind an ISA firewall, which listens for traffic on port 80 and converts traffic to SSL (https). Internally, it communicates with the SharePoint server in regular http because there are no security threats within the network. I want users from the internet to hit the site on http://. Then, I want ISA to redirect the connection to https:// and display the public-facing SharePoint site with no login. This, I have gotten to work. ***However, when they click sign in, instead of Windows login dialog popping-up, I want them to be redirected to ISA's web-based form, and use their Active Directory logins to authenticate.*** I also tried to set up Sharepoint's web-based forms by modifying the web.config file, but this failed with an ambiguous error that I could not trace.

What is the best configuration to use in Sharepoint, IIS, and ISA to create this experience?

Thank you!

Versions:
Windows Server 2003 SP2
MOSS 2007
ISA 2006
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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cj_1969
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Hi, thanks for the response. I've made some progress based on the resources but haven't gotten it work work fully yet. Yes, you are correct that I want to use FBA against AD. I followed the steps outlined in the article you posted:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms998360.aspx

to use Visual Studio to create a custom login. I was sucessful in this--able to login and even create new ActiveDirectory accounts. Knowing my connection string in Web.config was correct, I set Sharepoint's settings and copied the information into the Sharepoint site's web.config (and the Central Admin web.config) as outlined here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/solutions/archive/2007/08/27/forms-based-authentication-fba-in-wss-3-0-moss-2007.aspx

Here's what happens now

1) On Central admin site: The web form comes up as soon as I hit the URL. When I login with invalid credentials, an invalid password error messages comes. With valid credentials, the page simply reloads, displaying the login form, but with no error message. So the connection string to AD is working, but not forwarding properly. Then, if I manually change the url to the root again, I get Error: Access denied. You are currently logged in (my user name)

So, why is the page not redirected into the Sharepoint site upon sucessful login, and why is Access denied. If I am using the WIndows login pop-up, I am allowed right in.

2) On the actual sharepoint site, the form simply reloads with no error message whether valid or invalid credentials are provided. After login and reload, hitting the site root manually simply redirects to the login page.

What can I do to properly authenticate and rediret?
Another note I forgot to mention... the login form being used is Sharepoints, not the custom one I developed. So the web.config provides


   <authentication mode="Forms">
      <forms loginUrl="/_layouts/login.aspx" />
    </authentication>

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Thanks for your help. In the end I am using a workaround with two separate sites and authentication providers. Although I've gotten ISA to authenticate against AD with a web form, it won't pass the login information through to Sharepoint, so a second HTTP authentication form is generated by Sharepoint after the user clears ISA. Not ideal, but close. Still working on it. Thanks for your help.
to get forms authentication working from IIS to SharePoint using the network credentials you will need to set up Kerberos authentication.  
To make this work you will need to configure the IIS server in AD for delegate authority and then make sure that SharePoint is enabled for Kerberos authentication ... most likely menas having to set an SPN for the SharePoint services.

Check out this page it might help ... http://www.sharepointjoel.com/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=2