Kerberos Server Version 2.0 Release Notes

HP’s Kerberos Server V 2.0 Release Note
What’s in This Version
Chapter 1 7
What’s in This Version
The Kerberos Server is primarily a centralized network authentication system providing
security solutions to geographically dispersed organizations. Listed below are some of the key
features of the Kerberos Server V 2.0.
Benefits and Features
• Strong Authentication
Using the Kerberos Server, you can be assured that users, who logon to your network
are who they claim to be, to access the services, databases and applications on your
client-server network.
Strong authentication is the backbone of the Kerberos Server. With geographically
located organizations and resources disbursed across multiple platforms the need for
users to access multiple secure systems in a secure manner is greater than ever, as
organizations grow. HP’s Kerberos Server V 2.0, provides the unique ability to broker
authentication between one secure system and another. The server provides the base for
strong authentication.
In order to use the Kerberos Server network, each user and service, referred to as a
principal, in the network must prove its identify, referred to as authentication. This
means that each principal must be able to, on demand, provide authentication
information that only the principal should be aware of. Proper protection of this
authentication information is a critical aspect of enabling the best security that can be
provided.
• Scalability
One of the primary benefits of the Kerberos Server is it is highly customizable and offers
the following advantages:
— Multiple secondary security servers that will enable load balancing with automatic
incremental propagation, without any performance degradation.
— Realms that can be organized according to types of users or services
• Multithreading
This capability has been provided for servicing user requests in KDC. The Kerberos
Server backend uses B+ tree algorithm that is efficient, thus enhancing performance.
• High Availability