[FEATURE-14405] RFID Authentication

We would like to implement RFID login for our Perspective application and do not have an external identity provider at this time. Is there a way to use the built in Ignition identity provider but attach some kind of RFID tag. We planned to handle the RFID reading within the PLC and send a code to Ignition to force a login of a specific user but at this time it doesn’t look like there’s a way to login a specific user but maybe I’m missing something. Or is there a simple external identity provider that could accomplish this?

Thanks!

Hi @apgilber -

Development is underway for badge scan support for the Ignition Identity Provider. The idea is: you will be able to assign badge IDs for each user in the the user source profile assigned to the Identity Provider. In the Identity Provider settings, you can enable badge scan mode. When the user tries to log in, they will be prompted to scan their badge. In the web browser, we treat a badge scan as basic keyboard input which we listen to in the background, and once the badge scans, we look for the user with the corresponding badge ID. If there is a match, we log in the user. Hopefully this is something that could work for you.

Yes that sounds great. Any timeline on that development?

Should be in an Early Access Build within a few weeks if all goes according to plan.

Would there be a way to get this for Vision as well? Perspective isnt ready for fulltime desktop use, and we would like this feature for Vision. Thanks!

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Hi @Kyle_Chase -

Yes: badge-based authentication will become available in Vision once we make Vision IdP-aware.

We actually just now have a project that requires this feature. Any updates on this?
Also, what type of USB RFID (Mifare) reader should i get? I understand that there are actually a lot of different standards on this.
Some readers just simulate keyboard input. Some provides a virtual COM-port. And some integrates as a windows “card reader” device.

Hi @pat.stave1 -

We have a badge-based authentication feature under code review right now. After that, QA will have at it and once they give the green light, the feature will be available in early access builds.

The new feature treats badge scans as basic keyboard input so keep that in mind for whichever technology you choose.

Hi @jspecht
Thanks for your update. You say that the badge scans is treated as basic keyboard inputs. Does that mean that the badge ID has to arrive from keyboard input to the client? Or can the badge id come from for example a tag? What kind of badge scanner device does IA utilize for testing?

Hi @pat.stave1 -

I have been using RFIDeas pcProx Plus card reader for testing. The card reader is treated as a basic keyboard when plugged into the system. The card reader abstracts away the RFID details. When a badge is scanned, the card reader sends a sequence of key strokes which together make up the badge ID. In this way, we can emulate someone “typing” in a badge ID into a web-based component even though the user experience is a simple wave of a badge.

Hi -

The Ignition 8 early access build from this morning includes Badge-based authentication support. Take a look at this post for more info: Badge-based Authentication Support