Last update: 2015 Dec 11
SAML is a protocol to authenticate a user across several systems/services. The best description I found so far is (IMO):
“SAML is like building a nuclear reactor to light a lightbulb”.
So any good documentation is worth its weight in gold :-).
I’ve found several things to help us make an IDP and/or testing it better
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4291618/saml-sso-client-test-simulator-saml-provider-server
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6063158/public-saml-v2-service-providers-for-testing
To install an IDP:
https://wiki.shibboleth.net/confluence/display/SHIB2/IdPInstall