How to use Chrome Profiles to Alleviate SSO Cookie Cache Errors

Summary

Chrome Profiles alleviate the common Azure SSO challenges of storing cookies and cache between environments for the same application. Most notably Banner Test and Production Environments.

Body

Why: 

Chrome profiles are a versatile feature within the Google Chrome web browser that allow users to create and manage separate, personalized instances of their browsing experience. Each profile is like a digital alter ego, with its own set of bookmarks, browsing history, extensions, and settings. These profiles can be easily switched between, enabling users to compartmentalize their online sessions and tailor their browser sessions to different needs and preferences.  

You can have distinct profiles for each environment, ie, UNH Production, UNH Test, UNH Dev, PSu Production, PSU Test, etc. Each profile can have its unique set of browser settings, but more importantly its own set of cookies, tokens and cached settings, making it easy to keep session data separate.  Additionally, extensions are also kept separate. If there is an extension you love, you can keep it installed on your main account while not having it hinder your usage of other environments.  

Using separate profiles for each environment should mitigate many of the SSO / Azure related issues users are currently facing when using multiple environments..  

 

How To: 

Open the user icon, located in the upper right corner of chrome and select Add.   

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

         

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

A new window will open with options to sign in or continue without an account.  Select Continue without an account. 

Name the profile you wish to create and select the preferred color / icon.  

Repeat for each environment you wish to access.  

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

Select a chrome profile, i.e. UNH Production, and open tabs for each area in UNH Production that you access such as AppNav, SSB, Workflow.  

Open up your MyAccount Page and Log In. Then open another Tab with the environment of your choice. Common examples are Banner Test or Banner Production or Degree Works. Etc.

Next, open chrome settings, select the “on startup tab”, select “open a specific page or set of page”, and check use current pages. This will automatically open your preferred tabs each time you enter that specific chrome profile.  

Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)

 

 

Details

Details

Article ID: 4802
Created
Fri 10/13/23 1:01 PM
Modified
Fri 10/13/23 1:09 PM
Applicable Institution(s):
Keene State College (KSC)
Plymouth State University (PSU)
University of New Hampshire (UNH)
USNH System Office