A Solaris Smartcard provides a somewhat more secure method for logging in to the Solaris desktop environment than is provided by the standard UNIX login. Information stored on the smart card verifies the identity of the user during login. A user who cannot provide the login information that is on the smart card is denied access to the desktop. The Solaris Smartcard software:
Implements the Smartcard framework, which is based on the OCF1.1 standard
Supports a variety of card readers
Supports three widely-used smart cards
Allows management from the Solaris Smartcard Console or the Solaris command line
Protects login to the desktop environment through PIN authentication and provides a screen lock via dtsession when a smart card is removed from the card reader
Lets a user store security credentials directly onto the card (Java cards only)