---
title: Configure in-memory journey sessions
description: Configure PingAM to store journey sessions in memory using sticky load balancing and HMAC signing
component: pingam
version: 8.1
page_id: pingam:am-sessions:impl-in-memory-auth-sessions
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingam/8.1/am-sessions/impl-in-memory-auth-sessions.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingam/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: 2026-06-01T14:11:17Z
keywords: ["Sessions", "CTS Store (Sessions & Tokens)", "Setup & Configuration", "Load Balancer", "Storage"]
page_aliases: ["sessions-guide:impl-in-memory-auth-sessions.adoc"]
---

# Configure in-memory journey sessions

Follow these steps to store journey sessions in AM's memory:

1. Make sure you have configured AM for [sticky load balancing](../setup/configure-lb.html).

2. In the AM admin UI, go to Realms > *realm name* > Authentication > Settings > Trees.

3. From the Authentication session state management scheme drop-down list, select `In-Memory`.

4. In the Max duration (minutes) field, enter the maximum life of the journey session in minutes.

   You can also set the maximum duration in a tree or at the node level. Learn more in [Maximum duration](../am-authentication/suspended-auth.html#maximum-duration).

5. Save your changes.

6. Go to Configure > Authentication > Core > Security.

7. In the Organization Authentication Signing Secret field, enter a base64-encoded HMAC secret that AM uses to sign the JWT that is passed back and forth between the client and AM during the authentication process. The secret must be, at least, 128-bits in length.

8. Save your changes.