# Tableau SAML + SSL certificates

**URL:** <https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436>\
**Category:** SAML\
**Created:** [March 11, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436 "2020-03-11T17:20:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![emiliano.perez](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/oktadev/user_avatar/devforum.okta.com/emiliano.perez/32/1671_2.png) [@emiliano.perez](https://devforum.okta.com/u/emiliano.perez)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436/1 "2020-03-11T17:20:45Z")

</div>

I’m trying to setup Tableau logins via SAML

I’ve did everything I would normally do on AWS (create the application, upload the IdP metadata, setup a unique Entity ID using the URL), but Tableau asked me for a certificate and a key which is new.

Since the Okta application doesn’t provide me with these details, I’ve searched for a while and found that you can create keys and certificates for applications using the API: [Apps | Okta Developer](https://developer.okta.com/docs/reference/api/apps/#generate-new-application-key-credential)

The API process went quite smooth, we generated a CSR, we “self-signed” it with a made up CA, uploaded the PEM back to Okta, so far so good… but the JWK provided by you only show me a public key, and Tableau expects a private key instead.

I’ve thought of making my own PEM and KEY files, but I haven’t found any endpoint to upload a KEY file to you, I can only generate new ones.

I’m not sure if I followed the correct procedure, or if something is missing on the guides I’ve followed

PS: It’s Tableau Server, on-premise on our own servers

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dragos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/oktadev/user_avatar/devforum.okta.com/dragos/32/1313_2.png) [@dragos](https://devforum.okta.com/u/dragos)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 6:40am UTC](https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436/3 "2020-03-12T06:40:31Z")

</div>

Hi @emiliano.perez

Can you please check in your Okta administrative dashboard under Applications \>\> Tableau SAML application \>\> Sign On tab \>\> View Setup Instructions the SAML configuration details to see if this are the ones required by Tableau?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![emiliano.perez](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/oktadev/user_avatar/devforum.okta.com/emiliano.perez/32/1671_2.png) [@emiliano.perez](https://devforum.okta.com/u/emiliano.perez)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436/4 "2020-03-12T13:03:25Z")

</div>

I’d recommend avoiding the RTFM routine entirely (not just here)… despite that, yes, I’ve read the manual. Have you? It doesn’t say where to get these certificates, it only says the following:

> SAML certificate and key files— Click Select File to upload each of these files.

Source:

- [Setup SSO](https://saml-doc.okta.com/SAML_Docs/How-to-Configure-SAML-2.0-for-Tableau-Server.html)
- [Configure Server-Wide SAML - Tableau](https://help.tableau.com/current/server/en-us/config_saml.htm#saml-configuration-overview)

Here’s the guide that I’ve followed to get the certificate and key pair, but again, it only provides with public keys instead of private ones: [Sign the Okta certificate with your own CA | Okta Developer](https://developer.okta.com/docs/guides/sign-your-own-saml-csr/overview/)

PS: We have Tableau Server 2019.3 at the moment

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![emiliano.perez](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/oktadev/user_avatar/devforum.okta.com/emiliano.perez/32/1671_2.png) [@emiliano.perez](https://devforum.okta.com/u/emiliano.perez)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436/5 "2020-03-17T17:48:10Z")

</div>

I’ve tried with a self-signed certificate + private key and it failed, but this time with a different error message apparently not related to the certificate itself:

> com.tableau.messagebus.clients.tableauserver.FailsafeSubscriber - Retrying Subscription. Error for: topic=vizportal-commenting-mentions | scalingGroup=CommentingMentionNotifier | tryCount=9 | errorCause:  
> java.lang.NullPointerException

I think I will switch to SWA for now, but I’d really like to setup SAML to have users without a password and have the access centralized.

Please contact Tableau so they update their guide, or provide a more specific one for Okta in particular.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andrea](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/oktadev/user_avatar/devforum.okta.com/andrea/32/2172_2.png) [@andrea](https://devforum.okta.com/u/andrea)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 10:52pm UTC](https://devforum.okta.com/t/tableau-saml-ssl-certificates/8436/6 "2024-01-23T22:52:15Z")

</div>

Closed on January 23, 2024, 10:52pm UTC


