Concepts and Terminology

Keystores and users must be created for applications that communicate with the Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 board through a PKCS#11 interface, such as the Sun ONE Web Server.

Users, within the context of the Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000, are owners of cryptographic keying material. Each key is owned by a single user. Each user may own multiple keys. A user may want to own multiple keys to support different configurations, such as a production key and a development key (to reflect the organizations the user is supporting).

Note –The term user or user account refers to Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 users created in vcaadm, not traditional UNIX user accounts. There is no fixed mapping between UNIX user names and Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 user names.

A keystore is a repository for key material. Associated with a keystore are security officers and users. Keystores not only provide storage, but a means for key objects to be owned by user accounts. This allows keys to be hidden from applications that do not authenticate as the owner. Keystores have three components:

■Key objects – Long-term keys that are stored for applications such as the Sun ONE Web Server.

■User accounts – These accounts provide applications a means to authenticate and access specific keys

■Security officer accounts – These accounts provide access to key management functions through vcaadm.

Note –A single Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 board must have exactly one keystore. Multiple Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 boards can be configured to collectively work with the same keystore to provide additional performance and fault-tolerance.

A typical installation contains a single keystore with a single user. For example, such a configuration might consist of a single keystore web_server and a single user within that keystore, web_admin. This would allow the user web_admin to own and maintain access control of the server keys within that single keystore.

An administrative tool, vcaadm, is used to manage Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 keystores and users. Refer to “Managing Keystores With vcaadm” on page 69.

86 Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 Board Installation and User’s Guide • May 2003

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Sun Microsystems 4000 manual Concepts and Terminology
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4000 specifications

Sun Microsystems, a pivotal player in the computing industry during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, was renowned for its innovative hardware and software solutions. Among its notable offerings were the Sun-6000, Sun-5000, and Sun-4000 series, powerful workstations and servers designed for a range of enterprise-level applications.

The Sun-6000 series, introduced in the early 1990s, marked a significant advancement in computing performance. These systems were built on the SPARC architecture, which facilitated high levels of processing power and multitasking capabilities. One of the main features of the 6000 series was its scalability, allowing organizations to increase their processing power by adding more modules. It also offered robust graphics performance, making it ideal for scientific visualization and complex data analysis.

Next in line was the Sun-5000 series. Launched shortly after the 6000 series, the 5000 line was celebrated for its reliability and ease of management. This series emphasized a balanced architecture, which combined processing capabilities with ample memory and storage options. Key characteristics included support for multiple processors, leading to improved performance for demanding applications. Additionally, the 5000 systems featured advanced input/output capabilities, ensuring fast data transfers—crucial for database applications and web servers.

Finally, the Sun-4000 series targeted businesses seeking affordable yet potent computing solutions. These servers boasted a modular design, allowing for easy upgrades and maintenance. The 4000 series was particularly notable for its support for various operating systems, including SunOS and Solaris. These systems were engineered to handle a range of workloads, from enterprise resource planning to web hosting, while still fitting into a value-driven budget.

Across all three series, Sun Microsystems prioritized compatibility and integration, ensuring that each system offered seamless connectivity with Sun's software solutions and third-party applications. Their commitment to open standards and interoperability set them apart in the competitive landscape of enterprise computing. Additionally, the use of high-quality components lent the systems durability, making them a wise investment for organizations looking to future-proof their IT infrastructure.

In summary, the Sun-6000, 5000, and 4000 series exemplified Sun Microsystems' ethos of innovation and reliability. These powerful systems catered to diverse business needs, setting benchmarks in performance and functionality that continue to influence modern computing.
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