InCommon is adding metadata elements that will allow identity providers and service providers to tell each other more about their services and attribute needs so that a whole host of better, easier, more scalable transactions can happen. You can read the background information on InCommon’s overall plans for better attribute management across the federation at https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/TRWp

During the week of June 13, InCommon will deploy several new metadata elements aimed at delivering additional information about IdPs and SPs, improving the user experience, and enabling the process of user consent. This is part of a commitment by InCommon to provide new methods for managing attributes with the goal of making federation easier to use and operate.

WHY:

WHAT:
IdPs and SPs will populate additional metadata elements including:

For descriptions of the new user interface elements for both SP and IdP administrators, see https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/2YGKAQ

Descriptions of the SP-only requested attributes are at https://spaces.at.internet2.edu/x/8YGKAQ

HOW:
Those site administrators who maintain metadata for their organizations will populate these fields via a forms-based interface provided by InCommon.

WHEN:
The new metadata elements will be available for production use during the week of June 13. In the meantime, you can test the new metadata now!

http://wayf.incommonfederation.org/InCommon/InCommon-metadata-test.xml

To view the new metadata elements, search for “UIInfo” and “AttributeConsumingService” in the XML file. If you have the opportunity to test this metadata file in your environment, please do so and let us know what you find out (incommon-admin@incommon.org).

This rollout is part of our desire to create conditions for better attribute management and to enhance scaling of federated access. As always, we're open to hearing from you about how to continue to improve and add value to the federation.