SASL-Based Client Authentication

Client authentication during an SSL or TLS connection can also use the Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL), a generic security interface, to establish the identity of the client. Directory Server Enterprise Edition supports the following mechanisms through SASL:

• DIGEST-MD5. This mechanism authenticates clients by comparing a hashed value sent by the client with a hash of the user's password. However, because the mechanism must read user passwords, all users wanting to be authenticated through DIGEST-MD5 must have {CLEAR} passwords in the directory.

• GSSAPI. The General Security Services API (GSSAPI) is available only on the Solaris Operating System. It allows Directory Server to interact with the Kerberos V5 security system to identify a user. The client application must present its credentials to the Kerberos system, which in turn validates the user's identity to Directory Server.

• EXTERNAL. This mechanism authenticates a user in LDAP based on the credentials specified by an external security layer, such as SSL or TLS.

For more information, see Using SASL DIGEST-MD5 in Clients in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.2 Administration Guide and Using Kerberos SASL GSSAPI in Clients in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.2 Administration Guide.