You can use several functions for getting information about the installed security system.
rpc_gss_get_mechanisms(3NSL)() returns a list of installed security mechanisms.
rpc_gss_is_installed(3NSL)() checks if a specified mechanism is installed.
rpc_gss_get_mech_info(3NSL)() returns valid QOPs for a given mechanism.
Using these functions gives the programmer latitude in avoiding hard-coding security parameters in applications. (See Table 5–2 and the rpcsec_gss(3NSL) man page for a list of all RPCSEC_GSS functions.)