User authentication for the masses

Access Granted

Article from Issue 123/2011
Author(s):

Outsourcing authentication services gives you access to more services – at a price. Kurt examines the pros and cons of distributed authentication.

Last month, I talked about password management for users. But what can server and system administrators really do to make life easier for users and themselves? One obvious solution to username and password proliferation is to somehow allow a single account access to multiple services. Traditionally, this process was done with federated login services, such as LDAP, Kerberos [1], and so on. This approach works well for specific organizations, but it’s unlikely that sites will grant random people the ability to create and use accounts.

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • OpenID

    OpenID offers an open standard for logging on to closed-door websites.

  • Tine 2.0 Now OpenID Provider

    The Web-based groupware suite Tine 2.0 is now available in version 2009/11, code-named August.

  • Smart Access Intro

    Maybe password security isn't perfect, but most networks depend on it. This month we examine some tools for smarter, more versatile authentication.

  • OSCON 2007

    More than 2500 open source enthusiasts met in Oregon for O'Reilly's annual OSCON convention.

  • Security Lessons: Web Frameworks

    Stop re-inventing the wheel and build your web applications with the excellent tools already available.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News