SECURITY-LOGIN(2) SECURITY-LOGIN(2)
NAME
login - verify credentials
SYNOPSIS
include "keyring.m";
include "security.m";
login := load Login Login->PATH;
login: fn(name, password, addr: string):
(string, ref Keyring->Authinfo);
DESCRIPTION
The Login module is provided for use by a client of a certi-
fying authority (CA) or `signer'. The login function commu-
nicates with a certifying authority (CA) in order to create
a Keyring->Authinfo adt which contains a public/private key
pair and a certificate signed by the CA (see keyring-
intro(2)). The public/private key pair is generated by login
using the same parameters as those in the signer's key (eg,
algorithm and key length); see keyring-gensk(2). The proce-
dure assumes a secret, i.e. a password, has already been
established between the user and the CA. See changelogin(8)
and keyfs(4) for how this password is managed at the CA.
Login connects, using sys-dial(2), to the signer at network
address addr, which is any form accepted by cs(8), including
the special address $SIGNER, which cs will translate to the
client's default signer (if there is one). Normally the
incoming call will be given to logind(8) by svc(8).
Login sends the user name and password, using the protocol
described in login(6), to justify the server's issuing a
certificate, which is returned in a Keyring->Authinfo adt on
success. The certificate can if desired be stored by
Keyring->writeauthinfo; see keyring-auth(2). The password is
used by the encrypted key exchange protocol to establish a
secure channel between user and CA.
SOURCE
/appl/lib/login.b
SEE ALSO
getauthinfo(8), keyring-auth(2), login(6),
createsignerkey(8), logind(8)
DIAGNOSTICS
Login returns nil in the string component on success and a
diagnostic string on error (with a nil Keyring->Authinfo
reference).
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