Common Data Security Architecture (CDSA) White Paper

Chapter 1 3

1 Common Data Security

Architecture (CDSA) White

Paper

This document describes the Common Data Security Architecture (CDSA), which, as of June

1999, is available on the HP-UX 11.0 Application CD. In the future, it will be available as part

of the HP-UX core. The intent of this white paper is to give Independent Software Vendors

(ISVs), system administrators, and users an overview of CDSA and to enable them to take

advantage of its libraries to develop security applications.

The information in this white paper is organized as follows:

• Glossary of CDSA terminology

• Depiction of CDSA, as currently implemented in HP-UX

• Description of the Common Security Services Manager (CSSM), which provides the core

services of CDSA

• Description of the Cryptography Service Provider (CSP) application program interface

• Description of the Certiﬁcate Library Services (CL) application program interface

• Explanation of add-in modules, their use, design criteria, and rules for manufacture,

signing, and installation

• Pointers to further resources, both bibliographic and online.

NOTE This white paper is not intended as a single source of information on

CDSA. Readers intending to make full use of the libraries are

encouraged to consult the resources and websites listed at the end of this

paper.