Thread: What does PAM really mean in my life?

ok - googled, , forum searched.

pam authentication mean in life? have it? when need make work?

seems come @ strange times, , mentioned in obtuse ways.

here - let me tell have. have older p4 era machine running gnome, samba, , testbed oracle database. keep gnome on there 2 reasons - i'm not entirely knowledgable managing server command line, , use machine backup desktop on occasion. have newer i-5 desktop - dual boot 10.04 , xp, , laptop, dual boot 10.04 , win7. plus family windows boxes.

year ago running 9.something server, , had machines recognizing server name. upgraded 10.04, , can them find server ip. use same samba.conf.

so, when ldap , winbinnd mentioned, , refer pam - i'm confused. don't think should consider worrying ldap - i'm not sure - maybe there there should doing i'm not - server recognized name again? if mess that, apparently have mess pam. i'm not spending time on it.

however, following guide making server available through ssh when traveling work. haven't gotten there yet - part of business setting ssh keyed security, instead of password.

pam going bump , need know about? or "just works" - , can safely ignore until breaks. ?

thoughts.

pam framework providing consistent authentication interface services. services use "under hood".

i've been admin'ing linux boxen many years, , pam still little bit voodoo me though i've made couple of attempts head around it.

times i've needed mess pam when wanted create special sort of authentication setup service -- authenticating workstation ldap, or configuring complex ssh rules.

there other "front-end" configs can work instead.

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