Add Google Authentication to Web Help Desk Authentication Methods

Avadhut.Deshpande I'd like to ALSO suggest that the developers look to adjust the login screen for Web Help Desk, so that when the "Authentication Method" selected is Google, a "Sign in With Google" button appears on the login screen (see mockup below).  The purpose of this is so that it's readily apparent to the person who gets to the login page, that you can use your Google Account to login to Web Help Desk:

The Google Authentication feature should also be easily extensible to TECH accounts as well - the fact that TECH accounts require a separate username/password in order to login is pretty ridiculous.  Should an individual whom is ALSO a tech, want to enter a ticket as a CUSTOMER, they can just use the "Switch to Client Account" button and vice versa. 

In general, TECH accounts shouldn't require a special/separate login like they do now.  Instead, the account should just all be Google or all Active Directory for example - not "if you want to login as a customer enter your Active Directory credentials, but if you want to login as a tech, use your special Tech Account with a 12 digit password".  The current design is rudimentary and not at all indicative of good design.

Agree Jeff , let me see what best we can do.

This looks like it's been a request for 3 years now with 26 upvotes:
https://thwack.solarwinds.com/products/web-help-desk-whd/i/feature-requests/google-apps-authentication---webhelpdesk?CommentId=05cdb7e7-b85b-42a9-800a-13d5e75a8707

Avadhut.Deshpande I get that there's a multi-step work around documented in the Feature Request above, but does Web Help Desk really have to continue to be that complicated to make Google Authentication work?  Essentially you're "tricking" the system out to work - the system hasn't been modified to just work.  Seems like the developers would have fun making this feature seamless.  Wouldn't they?

Well, then again, perhaps LDAP isn't required after all. A more thorough setup demonstration is provided here, that implies LDAP isn't actually required.

Ah  - I think I see the method here. The linked method apparently requires LDAP - which we also used to use, but no longer do.