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Identity providers and federations can supply configuration instructions and files to help make things easier, but some Shibboleth configuration requires a thorough understanding of the application and webspace itself.
If load balancing or proxying will be used, an understanding of how the proxying and load balancing works is very beneficial, especially with regard to the impact on TLS/SSL usage and how URL virtualization is supported on the chosen web server. Note that IIS does not support such virtualization and the workarounds to make it appear to support this are not for the faint of heart.
The most important aspects of application integration are discussed in "Shibbolizing" a Resource.