Generic Security Services Application Programming Interface

GSSAPI

GSSAPI stands for Generic Security Service Programming Interface.

It faces the problem, that there are a lot of totally different and between each other incomatible security services. E.g. SASL methods, Kerberos, password authtication, etc. Viz. the particular articles in WIKIPEDIA concerning SASL, KERBEROS and Authtication.

GSSAPI provides a standardized application programming interface with well defined functions on source level encapsulating lower level security mechanisms and/or environments. It is possible to use eye scanners, security cards, or passwords via keyboard or internet for authenticate users against a service.

More information to GSSAPI can be found in RFC2743, e.g. at http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2743.html