Context Information

The GSS-API provides a function, gss_inquire_context(), that obtains information about a given security context (even an incomplete one). Given a context handle, gss_inquire_context() provides the following information about it:

• The name of the context initiator.

• The name of the context acceptor.

• The number of seconds for which the context will remain valid.

• The security mechanism used with the context.

• Several context-parameter flags. These flags are the same as the ret_flags argument of the gss_accept_sec_context() function (see Context Acceptance (Server)), covering delegation, mutual authentication, and so on.

• A flag indicating whether or not the inquiring application was the context initiator.

• A flag indicating whether or not the context is fully established.

For more information, see the gss_inquire_context(3GSS) man page.