9.3 WebSphere Edge Server

WebSphere Edge Server acts as a front end to a cluster of Web application servers, serving static and limited dynamic content from its cache and performing load balancing. It supports SSL-encrypted requests and, if needed, exploits cryptographic hardware accelerators to relieve application servers of CPU- intensive public key infrastructure (PKI) authentication chores.

WebSphere Edge Server addresses the authentication and authorization requirements by the use of the Tivoli Access Manager for Edge Server plug-in. It identifies users to all the site's back-end components , and controls the access to cached static or slowly changing dynamic content, as well as to back-end highly dynamic or interactive content. The Access Manager plug-in can identify users via X.509 certificates, forms-based login or the traditional ID-password basic authentication challenge protected by an SSL-encrypted session. It integrates with access policy administration tools such as Policy Server and LDAP.