Overview of Maximo Mobile authentication and data flow
You can use the Maximo® Mobile app in online and offline scenarios. In an online scenario, the app is connected to Maximo Manage and uses the services and data that are provided. In an offline scenario, the app is not connected to Maximo Manage but continues to operate by using locally stored data.
Login and authentication
The first time that a user logs in to the Maximo Mobile app, they must have network connectivity, so they can connect to Maximo Application Suite. To log in to the Maximo Mobile app, the user must enter the credentials that they use in Maximo Application Suite. Using a single sign-on, the user is also authenticated with Maximo Manage, and the mobile apps that are on the Maximo Manage server are set up on the device. As part of the initial setup, a local JSON data store is created on the device. The data store is a repository for data that is downloaded from the Maximo Manage server. The data store is encrypted by using a unique key that is saved in the device's keystore. Each time a user opens the Maximo Mobile app, they are prompted for their device's security credentials so the app can access the local data store.
When a user authenticates to Maximo Application Suite, they are granted a token, which is used to authenticate all requests to the server. The token lasts for 12 hours, after which the user is prompted to authenticate to Maximo Application Suite again. If the user does not authenticate successfully, they work offline until they authenticate to Maximo Application Suite again. A user can authenticate to Maximo Application Suite at any time by clicking the cloud icon at the bottom of the app screen.
For information about Maximo Mobile security, refer to the Security and user management topic in the Maximo Manage documentation.
Online and offline operations
When mobile users are online, Maximo Mobile apps interact with Maximo Manage and exchange data that is represented in JSON format. In Maximo Manage, requests are processed by an OSLC service provider, and a response is returned.
The data that is retrieved from Maximo Manage is automatically saved to the local data store on the device. The availability of locally stored data makes online data operations more efficient, and users can continue to work when a planned or unexpected disconnection occurs. While users are online, local data is automatically synchronized to maintain consistency with Maximo Manage. Users can also manually synchronize data.
When mobile users are offline, requests are processed on the device by using data that was retrieved during online operations. When connectivity is restored, local data is automatically synchronized.
Some applications, like Assist and Parts Identifier, require the user to be online.