Authentication Programming Interfaces

Access Manager provides both Java APIs and C APIs for writing authentication clients that remote applications can use to gain access to the Authenticate Service. Communication between the APIs and the Authentication Service occurs by sending XML messages over HTTP(S). The Java and C APIs support all authentication types supported by the browser-based user interface. Clients other than Java and C clients can also use the XML/HTTP interface directly to initiate an authentication request.

Additionally, you can add custom authentication modules to Access Manager by using the com.iplanet.authentication.spi package. This SPI implements the JAAS LoginModule, and provides additional methods to access the Authentication Service and module configuration properties files. Because of this architecture, any custom JAAS authentication module will work within the Authentication Service.

For more information, see Chapter 2, Using Authentication APIs and SPIs, in Sun Java System Access Manager 7.1 Developer’s Guide.