---
title: Realm authentication configuration
description: AM users always authenticate to a realm. Each realm has a set of authentication settings that apply to all authentication performed to that realm. The settings are referred to as core authentication attributes.
component: pingam
version: 7.3
page_id: pingam:authentication-guide:realm-auth-config
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingam/7.3/authentication-guide/realm-auth-config.html
keywords: ["Authentication", "Realms", "Setup & Configuration"]
---

# Realm authentication configuration

AM users always authenticate to a realm. Each realm has a set of authentication settings that apply to all authentication performed to that realm. The settings are referred to as *core authentication attributes*.

To configure core authentication attributes for an entire AM deployment, go to Configure > Authentication in the AM admin UI, and click Core Attributes.

![The core authentication attributes page is divided into seven tabs.](_images/core-auth-attributes.png)Figure 1. The Core Authentication Attributes Page

Each realm has a set of authentication settings that apply to all authentication performed to that realm. The settings are referred to as *core authentication attributes*. To override the global core authentication configuration in a realm, go to Realms > *Realm Name* > Authentication > Settings in the AM admin UI. Note that when you configure core authentication attributes in a realm, the Global tab does not appear.

Use core authentication attributes to configure:

* The list of available authentication modules

* Which types of clients can authenticate with which modules

* Connection pools for access to directory servers

* Whether to retain objects used during authentication so they can be used at logout

* Defaults for configuring authentication in a particular realm

For detailed information about the core configuration attributes, see [Core authentication attributes](authn-core-settings.html).