Very Computer

by **Paul Ratnar** » Sun, 05 May 1996 04:00:00

Hi,

We have multiple UNIX systems that have their own password files.
We are hoping to come up with a method that allows authentication using
the /etc/passwd files on the individual systems.

Does NETSCAPE offer or plan to offer authentication via
/etc/passwd files on UNIX?

Is there any other way of using the /etc/passwd files for
authentication other than NETSCAPE's database.

Pros and Cons on the above would be greatly appreciated.

by **Jonathan Hawki** » Tue, 07 May 1996 04:00:00

> We have multiple UNIX systems that have their own password files.
>We are hoping to come up with a method that allows authentication using
>the /etc/passwd files on the individual systems.

> Does NETSCAPE offer or plan to offer authentication via
>/etc/passwd files on UNIX?

> Is there any other way of using the /etc/passwd files for
>authentication other than NETSCAPE's database.

>Pros and Cons on the above would be greatly appreciated.

Use of /etc/passwd for non-shell related operations would be a UNIX security rule violation.

Secondly, in most implementations of UNIX (i.e. Solaris), the /etc/passwd file does not contain passwords. All passwords are placed in the /etc/shadow file.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jonathan Hawkins SunSoft Inc.
Member Tech. Staff

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Very Computer

Authentication (UNIX) on NETSCAPE

Authentication (UNIX) on NETSCAPE

Authentication (UNIX) on NETSCAPE