A feature of the 11g IRM Server that sometimes gets overlooked is the ability to set up some test content that any IRM user can access to verify that their IRM Desktop can reach the server, authenticate successfully, and render protected content successfully. Such test content is useful for new users, and in troubleshooting scenarios.

Here's how to set up some test content...

In the management console, go to IRM - Administration - Test Content, as shown.

The console will display a list of test content - initially an empty list.

Use the Add option to specify the URL of a document or image, and define one or more labels for the test content in whichever languages your users favour.

Note that you do not need to seal the image or document in order to use it as test content. Nor do you need to set up any rights for the test content. The IRM Server will handle the sealing and rights assignment automatically such that all authenticated users are authorised to view the test content.

Repeat this process for as many different types of content as you would like to offer for test purposes - perhaps a Word document, a PDF document, and an image.

To keep things simple the first time I did this, I used the URL of one of the images in the IRM Server's UI - so there was no problem with the IRM Server being able to reach that image. Whatever content you want to use, the IRM Server needs to be able to reach it at the URL you specify.

Using Test Content

Open a browser and browse to the URL that the IRM Desktop normally uses to access the IRM Server, for example:

http://irm11g.oracle.com/irm_desktop

If you are not sure, you can find this URL in the Servers tab of the IRM Options dialog.

Go to the Test tab, and you will see your test content listed. By opening one of the items, you can verify that your IRM Desktop is healthy and that you can authenticate to the IRM Server.