Using Data Exchange (DX) with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in Jama Connect

Overview

This article explains the challenges and solutions for using DX with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) in Jama Connect, including how to configure authentication for mapping generation tools.

1. Does DX Support Multi-Factor Authentication?

✔ DX primarily relies on username/password authentication and may not directly support MFA.
✔ If Jama Connect is configured with multi-mode authentication, DX might still be able to use basic authentication if an integration service is available.
✔ Scripts that generate DX mapping files may be hardcoded to use only username and password, making MFA integration more complex.

✔ Impact on DX Users:

• If Jama only allows MFA, DX may not authenticate successfully.

• Users may need to configure a separate authentication method for API access (e.g., OAuth).

2. Workarounds for Running DX with MFA-Enabled Jama Connect

✔ Option 1: Use Basic Authentication for DX API Calls

• If multi-mode authentication is enabled, DX may still use basic authentication.

• Ensure a dedicated API user with username/password authentication is available.

✔ Option 2: Configure OAuth for DX Authentication

• The Data Exchange Mapping Generator script supports OAuth authentication.

• Example OAuth command for DX mapping generation:

  bash

  CopyEdit

  java -jar dx-map-generator-1.2.5.jar -u <JAMA_URL> -a "oauth" -i <CLIENTID> -s <CLIENTSECRET> -f <REQIF_FILE_PATH> -m <PATH_TO_MAP> -t <MODULE_TYPE_ATTRIBUTE>

• This method avoids MFA issues by using API credentials instead of interactive login.

✔ Option 3: Use an Integration Service

• If OAuth or basic authentication is not an option, consider using an integration service to bridge DX and Jama.

3. Best Practices for Handling MFA in DX

✅ Check if multi-mode authentication is enabled in Jama Connect.
✅ Use OAuth authentication for DX scripts when possible.
✅ If using basic authentication, ensure a dedicated API user exists.
✅ Refer to Jama's multi-authentication documentation for setup details:

• Managing Users and Groups in Multi-Mode Authentication

4. Conclusion

• DX does not natively support MFA, but OAuth can be used as an alternative.

• If multi-mode authentication is enabled, DX may still function using basic authentication.

• Users should configure API authentication properly to avoid MFA-related login failures.