features Software

Methods of authentication

This section describes the three methods of authentication:

●Windows Active Directory

●Novell authentication

●LDAP authentication

Windows Active Directory authentication method

HP DSS Windows authentication uses Microsoft Active Directory, a special-purpose database that contains information about objects, including users, that are contained within the domain. The Active Directory database resides on domain controllers and is automatically replicated across all domain controllers in the domain. Active Directory provides an LDAP interface to the data in the directory database.

As shown in Figure 3-20 Windows Active Directory authentication, the following steps occur during Windows authentication:

1.The user types his or her username and password at the device. This information is securely transmitted to the HP DSS server.

2.The HP DSS program authenticates to the domain through the Windows API to validate the user’s credentials.

3.If the user’s credentials are correct, the Domain Controller returns either the security identifier (SID) or the BSID (Binary SID).

4.Using the LDAP interface, HP DSS queries the LDAP directory for the authenticated user’s e-mail address.

5.The LDAP directory returns the authenticated user’s e-mail address.

6.HP DSS inserts the authenticated user’s e-mail address in the From: text box of the e-mail and prohibits the user from changing the field.

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