Users Guide

Setup and Administration 19
Red Hat
®
Enterprise Linux and SUSE
®
Linux Enterprise Server Authentication
For supported Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating systems, Server
Administrator authentication is based on the Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) library.
This documented library of functions allows an administrator to determine how individual applications
authenticate users.
Encryption
Server Administrator is accessed over a secure HTTPS connection using secure socket layer (SSL)
technology to ensure and protect the identity of the system being managed. Java Secure Socket
Extension (JSSE) is used by supported Microsoft Windows, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server operating systems to protect the user credentials and other sensitive data that is
transmitted over the socket connection when a user accesses the Server Administrator home page.
Assigning User Privileges
You must properly assign user privileges to all Server Administrator users before installing Server
Administrator in order to ensure critical system component security.
The following procedures provide step-by-step instructions for creating Server Administrator users and
assigning user privileges for each supported operating system:
• "Creating Server Administrator Users for Supported Windows Operating Systems"
• "Creating Server Administrator Users for Supported Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server Operating Systems"
NOTICE: You must assign a password to every user account that can access Server Administrator to protect
access to your critical system components. Additionally, users who do not have an assigned password cannot log
into Server Administrator on a system running Windows Server™ 2003 due to operating system constraints.
NOTICE: You should disable guest accounts for supported Microsoft Windows operating systems in order to
protect access to your critical system components. See "Disabling Guest and Anonymous Accounts in Supported
Windows Operating Systems" for more information.
Creating Server Administrator Users for Supported Windows Operating Systems
NOTE: You must be logged in with Admin privileges to perform these procedures.
Creating Users and Assigning User Privileges for Supported Windows Server 2003 Operating Systems
NOTE: For questions about creating users and assigning user group privileges or for more detailed instructions,
see your operating system documentation.
1 Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, and point to Manage .
2 In the console tree, expand Local Users and Groups , and then click Users .
3 Click Action , and then click New User .