Login widget

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Login widget

    The Login widget is a core component in ServiceNow portals that controls user access by allowing users to authenticate with their credentials. It leverages the User [sysuser] records for validation, requiring the User ID and password to log in. This widget is provided as a base system widget which you can use directly or clone and customize to meet your specific business needs.

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    Key Features

    • Standard Login Fields: Users enter their User ID and password for authentication.
    • Forgot Password Link: Included by default, it directs users to reset their password using the Password Reset application. This link’s behavior is controlled by system properties, allowing you to enable or disable it according to your security preferences.
    • External User Self-Registration: Enables users to self-register through a link on the login screen (“Don’t have an account? Register”), allowing large user groups to create accounts without administrator assistance.
    • PIV/CAC Authentication: Supports certificate-based authentication for users with Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or Common Access Cards (CAC). Users can self-register their cards and log in using card readers, provided that administrators have enabled and configured this authentication method.
    • Instance Configuration Options: Allows customization of the widget appearance and layout on portal pages, including toggling the visibility of a background panel and switching between standard and advanced layouts that affect the positioning of the Forgot Password link and field labels.

    Practical Use and Configuration

    ServiceNow administrators can configure the Login widget instance to tailor its look and functionality to the portal’s design and security requirements. For example, the background panel can be shown or hidden to improve visual prominence, and layouts can be adjusted to enhance user experience. System properties control key behaviors such as displaying the Forgot Password link.

    For advanced scenarios like PIV/CAC login, administrators must first activate certificate-based authentication and set up the appropriate configurations before enabling users to self-register their cards.

    Next Steps

    • Create or edit portal pages using the Service Portal Designer to add or modify the Login widget.
    • Clone the Login widget if you need to customize it beyond the base functionality.
    • Configure widget instances to align with your portal’s branding and user authentication policies.

    The login widget controls user access to your site. You can use this base system widget as-is in your portal or clone it to suit your own business needs.

    Using the widget

    Users log in to a portal by entering their credentials in the login widget.

    The widget uses credentials from the User [sys_user] record. In the User name field, the user enters the User ID from their user record. In the Password field, the user enters the password from their user record.

    Figure 1. Login widget
    Default login widget on the Service Portal landing page
    The login widget by default includes a Forgot Password? link that enables users to reset their password using the Password Reset application. For more information about Password Reset configuration, see Password Reset.
    Note:
    When the user selects Forgot Password?, the system redirects the user to the page value specified in the glide.security.password_reset.uri system property.

    If you don't want to include the Forgot Password? link, set the glide.security.forgot_password.display.link system property to false.

    External user self-registration

    External user self-registration enables a large group of users to register to a ServiceNow app without the help of an administrator. Users register to the app via a link at the bottom of the login widget screen that says ""Don't have an account? Register".

    Self-registration link.

    For more information on external user self-registration, see Enable external users to self-register to your ServiceNow instance.

    PIV/CAC authentication

    With certificate-based authentication activated in your instance, users can register their Personal Identity Verification (PIV) or Common Access Card (CAC) card for Service Portal login.

    After self-registering their PIV/CAC card, a user can log in by inserting their card into a card reader and then selecting Login with PIV/CAC card on the login widget.

    Login page with PIV/CAC option

    Before a user can register their PIV/CAC card, an administrator must activate certificate-based authentication and then set up PIV/CAC authentication. For more information on this setup process, see Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card or Common Access Card (CAC) based authentication.

    For more information on how a user self-registers their PIV/CAC card, see Register your PIV/CAC card for Service Portal login.

    Instance options

    Use the instance options to configure the login widget for a portal page.

    Field Description
    Show panel Show or hide the panel that appears behind the login widget. The panel helps the widget stand out from the page background rather than blending in.
    Use Advanced View Changes the widget layout. Adds the Forgot Password? link to the left of the Login button and adds field names for User name and Password instead of hint text.