PAM Library

The PAM library, libpam(3LIB), is the central element in the PAM architecture:

• libpam exports an API, pam(3PAM). Applications can call this API for authentication, account management, credential establishment, session management, and password changes.

• libpam imports a master configuration file pam.conf(4). The PAM configuration file specifies the PAM module requirements for each available service. pam.conf is managed by a system administrator.

• libpam imports an SPI, pam_sm(3PAM), which is exported by the service modules.