+++
date = "2015-03-19T14:27:51-04:00"
title = "Authenticating"
[menu.main]
  parent = "Async Connecting"
  identifier = "Async Authenticating"
  weight = 20
  pre = "<i class='fa'></i>"
+++

# Authentication

The Java driver supports all MongoDB [authentication mechanisms](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/core/authentication/), including those
only available in the MongoDB [Enterprise Edition](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/administration/install-enterprise/).

An authentication credential is represented as an instance of the
[`MongoCredential`]({{< apiref "com/mongodb/MongoCredential" >}}) class, which includes static factory methods for
each of the supported authentication mechanisms.  A list of these instances must be passed to the driver via a
[`MongoClients`]({{< apiref "com/mongodb/async/client/MongoClients" >}}) static factory method that takes a 
[`MongoClientSettings`]({{< apiref "com/mongodb/async/client/MongoClientSettings" >}}) parameter.  Alternatively, a single 
`MongoCredential` can be created implicity via a 
[`ConnectionString`]({{< apiref "com/mongodb/ConnectionString" >}}) and passed to a 
`MongoClients` static factory method that takes a `ConnectionString` parameter. 

{{% note %}}
Given the flexibility of role-based access control in MongoDB, it is usually sufficient to authenticate with a single user, but, for completeness, the driver accepts a list of credentials.
{{% /note %}}

## Default authentication mechanism

MongoDB 3.0 changed the default authentication mechanism from
[MONGODB-CR](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/core/authentication/#mongodb-cr-authentication) to
[SCRAM-SHA-1](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/core/authentication/#scram-sha-1-authentication).  To create a credential that will
authenticate properly regardless of server version, create a credential using the following static factory method:

 ```java
import com.mongodb.MongoCredential;

// ...

String user;        // the user name
String database;    // the name of the database in which the user is defined
char[] password;    // the password as a character array
// ...
MongoCredential credential = MongoCredential.createCredential(user,
                                                              database,
                                                              password);
```

or with a connection string:

```java
ConnectionString uri = new ConnectionString("mongodb://user1:pwd1@host1/?authSource=db1");
```

This is the recommended approach as it will make upgrading from MongoDB 2.6 to MongoDB 3.0 seamless, even after [upgrading the
authentication schema](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/release-notes/3.0-scram/#upgrade-mongodb-cr-to-scram).


## SCRAM-SHA-1

To explicitly create a credential of type [SCRAM-SHA-1](http://docs.mongodb .org/manual/core/authentication/#scram-sha-1-authentication)
use the following static factory method:

```java
MongoCredential credential = MongoCredential.createScramSha1Credential(user,
                                                                       database,
                                                                       password);
```

or with a connection string:

```java
ConnectionString uri = new ConnectionString("mongodb://user1:pwd1@host1/?authSource=db1&authMechanism=SCRAM-SHA-1");
```

## MONGODB-CR

To explicitly create a credential of type [MONGODB-CR](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/core/authentication/#mongodb-cr-authentication)
use the following static factory method:

```java
MongoCredential credential = MongoCredential.createMongoCRCredential(user,
                                                                     database,
                                                                     password);
```

or with a connection string:

```java
ConnectionString uri = new ConnectionString("mongodb://user1:pwd1@host1/?authSource=db1&authMechanism=MONGODB-CR");
```

Note that this is not recommended as a credential created in this way will fail to authenticate after an authentication schema upgrade
from MONGODB-CR to SCRAM-SHA-1.

## x.509

The [x.509](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/core/authentication/#x-509-certificate-authentication) mechanism authenticates a user
whose name is derived from the distinguished subject name of the X.509 certificate presented by the driver during SSL negotiation. This
authentication method requires the use of SSL connections with certificate validation and is available in MongoDB 2.6 and newer. To
create a credential of this type use the following static factory method:

```java
String user;     // The x.509 certificate derived user name, e.g. "CN=user,OU=OrgUnit,O=myOrg,..."
MongoCredential credential = MongoCredential.createMongoX509Credential(user);
```

or with a connection string:

```java
ConnectionString uri = new ConnectionString("mongodb://subjectName@host1/?authMechanism=MONGODB-X509");
```

See the MongoDB server
[x.509 tutorial](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/tutorial/configure-x509-client-authentication/#add-x-509-certificate-subject-as-a-user) for
more information about determining the subject name from the certificate.

## Kerberos (GSSAPI)

[MongoDB Enterprise](http://www.mongodb.com/products/mongodb-enterprise) supports proxy authentication through a Kerberos service.  To
create a credential of type [Kerberos (GSSAPI)](http://docs.mongodb.org/manual/core/authentication/#kerberos-authentication) use the
following static factory method:

```java
String user;   // The Kerberos user name, including the realm, e.g. "user1@MYREALM.ME"
// ...
MongoCredential credential = MongoCredential.createGSSAPICredential(user);
```

or with a connection string:

```java
ConnectionString uri = new ConnectionString("mongodb://username%40REALM.com@host1/?authMechanism=GSSAPI");
```

{{% note %}}
The method refers to the `GSSAPI` authentication mechanism instead of `Kerberos` because technically the driver is authenticating via the 
[GSSAPI](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4752) SASL mechanism.
{{% /note %}}

To successfully authenticate via Kerberos, the application typically must specify several system properties so that the underlying GSSAPI
Java libraries can acquire a Kerberos ticket:

    java.security.krb5.realm=MYREALM.ME
    java.security.krb5.kdc=mykdc.myrealm.me

{{% note %}}
The `GSSAPI` authentication mechanism is supported only in the following environments:

* Linux: Java 6 and above 
* Windows: Java 7 and above with [SSPI](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa380493)
* OS X: Java 7 and above
{{% /note %}}

## LDAP (PLAIN)

[MongoDB Enterprise](http://www.mongodb.com/products/mongodb-enterprise) supports proxy authentication through a Lightweight Directory
Access Protocol (LDAP) service.  To create a credential of type [LDAP](http://docs.mongodb
.org/manual/core/authentication/#ldap-proxy-authority-authentication) use the following static factory method:

```java
String user;          // The LDAP user name
char[] password;      // The LDAP password
// ...
MongoCredential credential = MongoCredential.createPlainCredential(user, "$external", password);
```

or with a connection string:

```java
ConnectionString uri = new ConnectionString("mongodb://user1@host1/?authSource=$external&authMechanism=PLAIN");
```

{{% note %}}
The method refers to the `plain` authentication mechanism instead of `LDAP` because technically the driver is authenticating via the [PLAIN](https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4616.txt) SASL mechanism.
{{% /note %}}
