University at Buffalo (UB)
UBbox's login page is changing
By Dan Heuskin
Published December 20, 2016 This content is archived.
As of January 10, 2017, UBbox's login page will have a different look. The login page will be specific to UBbox and allow for more flexibility in file sharing for the university.
Although the new login page will look different, it will function exactly the same as the old login page, with an identical login process: there’s a field for your UBITName, a field for your password, and a sign-in button.
Apart from a new URL and new look, the only difference will be a slightly altered login process for those with ITORG exception accounts, who will have to type “ITORG\” followed by their ITORG login in the username field. The ability to allow ITORG customers access to Box came at the request of academic and departmental IT staff, who rely on these accounts to support current business processes.
These changes reflect the switch from UB’s standard Shibboleth login technology to a new technology for UBbox, called ADFS (Active Directory Federation System).
“ADFS is effectively Microsoft’s version of Shibboleth,” says Chris Bates, Senior Systems Architect with UBIT. “It uses all the same standards on the back end, with a different front end to accomplish the same purposes.”
At this time, the only UB service login that will change is UBbox. Shibboleth will remain the login process for all other services (MyUB, etc.).
Why the switch?
The change comes as UB refocuses file storage and sharing services from UBfs (University at Buffalo File Service) to UBbox, a more contemporary solution with unlimited, secure cloud storage.
“There are a lot of people sharing group files on campus, particularly in departments,” explains Bates. “The new login enables that sharing in UBbox.”
ADFS also features something called ITORG exception accounts—accounts created in the Active Directory for specific, one-off purposes. An ITORG exception account might be created to isolate a student employee’s work email from his or her academic email, for instance. These accounts don’t exist in Shibboleth, which is another reason for the UBbox switch to ADFS.
Once fully implemented on January 10, the shift from Shibboleth to ADFS on UBbox will introduce greater flexibility to information sharing and business practices across campus.