Distributed Authentication Service
at UC Davis
Definition of Key Terms
-
Authentication
: In a data communication system,
authentication verifies that messages or requests
really come from their stated source (i.e.
a specific user or a specific IP address). In the physical world, a handwritten
signature is a form of authentication. The UCD
distributed authentication system ensures that
only faculty, staff and students have access to
certain on-line resources.
-
Cookie: A small piece of information which a web server can store
temporarily with your web browser.
The browser on the individual computer keeps the
"cookie" temporarily and provides it to other web
servers that it accesses. This information is used to
authenticate or identify a particular user. An
analogy from the physical world is a dry cleaning
claim receipt. Further
Information
The cookies
created by the authentication service will
not be tracked or maintained for any
reason other than authentication.
-
Kerberos: An authentication mechanism developed
at MIT, which has been accepted as a standard for
distributed network environments.
-
Kerberos Password:
The password that must be submitted with along with the UCD LoginID
to access restricted internet services.
-
SSL:The protocol, Secure Sockets Layer, that is incorporated into
most browsers, supporting encryption of a user's name and password.
-
UCD LoginID: The login name (also called new-style login ID) used
with WIRES, BANNER, DAFIS accounts.
Comments: ithelp@ucdavis.edu
This page last modified on 03/8/02