Setting Up Keycloak on Windows 11 and Integrating with  Microsoft Entra ID

In today’s digital world, secure access to applications and data is paramount. That’s where solutions like Keycloak come into the picture. Open Source and rich in features, Keycloak is rapidly becoming the go-to for identity and access management. But its real power shines through when integrated with other platforms, especially Microsoft Entra ID, a leading enterprise-grade identity management service.

Preparing for the Integration:

Prerequisites:
  1. Keycloak: Freshly downloaded from Keycloak’s official website.
  2. Microsoft Azure Subscription: Ready to dance with Microsoft Entra ID? Ensure you have the requisite permissions.
  3. Java Development Kit (JDK): Essential for running Keycloak. Grab it from Oracle’s official site.
  4. Supported OS: Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux, there’s a Keycloak distribution waiting.

Setting the Stage with Keycloak:

  1. Unpack the Keycloak treasure you downloaded earlier and waltz into the bin directory.
  2. Fire up your terminal or command prompt. For the Windows crowd, punch in cmd.exe /c .\kc.bat start-dev. The macOS and Linux aficionados should go with ./kc.sh start-dev.
  3. Port brawl? If 8080’s taken, redirect Keycloak to another with .\kc.bat start-dev --http-port=8180.

The Keycloak – Microsoft Entra ID Tango:

  1. Microsoft’s Grand Entrance:
    • Visit the Azure Portal.
    • Introduce a new application in Microsoft Entra ID.
    • Safeguard the Application (client) ID and Directory (tenant) ID—You’ll need them later.
    • Under Authentication, serenade Keycloak with a redirect URI: http://localhost:8180/realms/master/broker/microsoftentraid/endpoint.
    • For the finale, craft a client secret in Certificates & secrets. Remember, it’s fleeting; jot it down.
  2. Keycloak’s Response:
    • Knock on Keycloak’s Admin Console door at http://localhost:8180/auth/.
    • In your chosen realm, step into Identity Providers.
    • Select Microsoft. No surprise there!
    • Fill the dance card with Microsoft Entra ID’s details: Client ID, Client Secret, and Tenant ID.
    • Commit with a save.

Voilà! Users can now waltz through Keycloak using Microsoft Entra ID credentials.

Hiccups Along the Way? Let’s Address Them:

  1. Port Face-off: Seeing ERROR: Port(s) already bound: 8080: Address already in use: bind? Someone’s already taken 8080 for a spin. Either show them the door or pick another port for Keycloak.
  2. The Redirect Misstep: Tripped by AADSTS50011? The redirect URI in Microsoft Entra ID might be leading elsewhere. Double-check to sync them up.
  3. Connectivity Conundrum: A Danger alert:Network response was not OK is a cue to revisit your network setup or peek at Azure’s service health.

Wrapping Up:

Joining Keycloak and Microsoft Entra ID is like orchestrating a harmonious dance. Although the steps are methodical, they demand attention to detail. For deeper dives, the Keycloak Official Documentation and Microsoft Entra ID Documentation are invaluable guides. Happy integrating!

Leave a comment