version 1.1, 2001/02/10 17:07:47
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version 1.2, 2001/02/15 15:43:47
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Line 16 passwords on a LON-CAPA system.
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Line 16 passwords on a LON-CAPA system.
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<H3>Latest HOWTO</H3> |
<H3>Latest HOWTO</H3> |
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There are three main topics when considering user passwords: |
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authentication, accessing the file system, and web-based access. |
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<P> |
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Authentication is covered in a separate document. I will briefly |
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mention that LON-CAPA supports different kinds of authentication |
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that can be customized for use within different institutional computing |
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environments. Authentication, whether it be related to web-based access, |
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or accessing the file system, is strictly the job of library servers, |
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not access servers. |
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</P> |
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<P> |
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Web-based access is initiated through a javascript encrypted protocol. |
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The server enables access to LON-CAPA from the client IP address until |
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the user logs out, or time expires without any action made by the user |
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on the web pages. Web-based access is something which is implemented |
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for the full range of users--from students to course administrators |
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to content developers. LON-CAPA relies upon the /home/httpd/lonUsers/ |
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directories to store information about password authentication for |
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the users of a given system. |
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<P> |
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Something which is not implemented for the full range of users, but |
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which is reserved for content developers, is file system access. |
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LON-CAPA provides for a wide range of file system access including |
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SSH, Samba (Windows Network Neighborhood), Appleshares, an FTP. |
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Three files are involved with coordinating file system access: |
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/etc/group, /etc/smbpasswd, and /etc/passwd. |
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<P> |
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Correctly handling the contents of /home/httpd/lonUsers directories, |
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and the /etc/group, /etc/smbpasswd, and /etc/passwd files is of |
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critical importance to ensure uninterrupted access to the LON-CAPA |
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network. |
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<P> |
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This document will be developed further. |
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