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Java Naming and Directory Interface(TM).
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Advanced Topics for LDAP Users
Authentication Mechanisms
Different versions of the LDAP
support different types of authentication.
The LDAP v2 defines three types of authentication: anonymous, simple
(clear-text password), and Kerberos v4.
The LDAP v3 supports anonymous, simple, and SASL authentication.
SASL is the Simple Authentication
and Security Layer (RFC 2222).
It specifies a challenge-response protocol in which data is
exchanged between the client and the server for the purposes of
authentication and establishment of a security layer on which to
carry out subsequent communication.
By using SASL, the LDAP can support any type of
authentication agreed upon by the LDAP client and server.
This lesson contains descriptions of how to authenticate by using
anonymous, simple,
and SASL authentication.
Specifying the Authentication Mechanism
The authentication mechanism is specified by using the
Context.SECURITY_AUTHENTICATION environment property.
The property may have one of the following values.
| sasl_mech |
A space-separated list of SASL mechanism names.
Use one of the SASL mechanisms listed (e.g.,
"CRAM-MD5" means to use the CRAM-MD5 SASL mechanism described in
RFC 2195).
|
| none |
Use no authentication (anonymous) |
| simple |
Use weak authentication (clear-text password) |
The Default Mechanism
If the client does not specify any authentication environment properties,
then the default authentication mechanism is
"none".
The client will then be treated as an anonymous client.
If the client specifies authentication information without explicitly specifying
the Context.SECURITY_AUTHENTICATION property, then the default
authentication mechanism is "simple".
