Configuring the client for request encryption: Encrypting the message parts

To configure the client for request encryption, specify which message parts to encrypt when configuring the client.

Before you begin

Important: There is an important distinction between Version 5.x and Version 6 and later applications. The information supports Version 5.x applications only that are used with WebSphere® Application Server Version 6.0.x and later. The information does not apply to Version 6.0.x and later applications.
Prior to completing these steps, read either of the following topics to familiarize yourself with the WS Extensions tab and the WS Binding tab in the Client Deployment Descriptor Editor within an assembly tool: These two tabs are used to configure the Web Services Security extensions and Web Services Security bindings, respectively.

About this task

Complete the following steps to specify which message parts to encrypt when configuring the client for request encryption:

Procedure

  1. Launch an assembly tool.
    For more information, see the related information on Assembly Tools.
  2. Switch to the Java™ Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) perspective. Click Window > Open Perspective > J2EE.
  3. Click Application Client Projects > application_name > appClientModule > META-INF.
  4. Right-click the application-client.xml file, select Open with > Deployment descriptor editor.
  5. Click the WS extensions tab, which is located at the end of the Client Deployment Descriptor Editor within the assembly tool.
  6. Expand Request sender configuration > Confidentiality.
    Confidentiality refers to encryption while integrity refers to digital signing. Confidentiality reduces the risk of someone understanding the message flowing across the Internet. With confidentiality specifications, the message is encrypted before it is sent and decrypted when it is received at the correct target. For more information on encrypting , see XML encryption.
  7. Select the parts of the message that you want to encrypt by clicking Add.
    You can select one of the following parts:
    Bodycontent
    User data portion of the message
    Usernametoken
    Basic authentication information, if selected

What to do next

After you specify which message parts to encrypt, you must specify which method to use to encrypt the request message. See Configuring the client for request encryption: choosing the encryption method for more information.