I finally signed up for an OpenID identity with MyOpenID. I'd been meaning to try out a single sign-on scheme for a while. OpenID hits all the right buttons for me: open, lots of implementations, low barrier to entry (compare that with Microsoft Passport).

I found the following blog post and sites helpful:

• Scott Kveton - Openid 2007-02-13 Ignite Seattle


• HOWTO: Set yourself up with an OpenID (Wez Furlong)


• OpenID for non-SuperUsers (Sam Ruby)


• Use your own URL as an OpenID


• OpenIDEnabled's test page

The process was pretty straightforward, with one twist. I wanted my OpenID name to be rich.phekda.org, i.e.: to delegate from my personal domain/host to the actual OpenID server. OpenID is designed to support this.

Here are the steps in getting it working:

1. Read lots of web pages about OpenID. ;)


2. Sign up for OpenID at MyOpenID.


3. Test out my new OpenID richdawe.myopenid.com by using OpenIDEnabled's test page, and also by logging into LiveJournal with OpenID.


4. Set up a virtual host on my web server for rich.phekda.org.


5. Create a basic web page for rich.phekda.org.


6. Set up the OpenID delegation. Add the link and meta tags to rich.phekda.org's web page, as described in "Use your own URL as an OpenID".


7. Test out my new OpenID rich.phekda.org by using OpenIDEnabled's test page, and by posting on Wez's blog.

One thing I was hoping for is that I could log into LiveJournal with my OpenID, rather than my actual username. Currently there is no link between LJ account and an OpenID, so that isn't possible. The OpenID does allow people to authenticate themselves, so that comments can be tied to a particular OpenID.