RFC 5178 · PROPOSED STANDARD · 2008

Generic Security Service Application Program Interface Internationalization and Domain-Based Service Names and Name Type

Overview

RFC 5178, “Generic Security Service Application Program Interface Internationalization and Domain-Based Service Names and Name Type”, is a Proposed Standard document published in May 2008 by N. Williams, A. Melnikov. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

This document describes domain-name-based service principal names and the corresponding name type for the Generic Security Service Application Programming Interface (GSS-API). Internationalization of the GSS-API is also covered.

Domain-based service names are similar to host-based service names, but using a domain name (not necessarily an Internet domain name) in addition to a hostname. The primary purpose of domain-based names is to provide a measure of protection to applications that utilize insecure service discovery protocols. This is achieved by providing a way to name clustered services after the "domain" which they service, thereby allowing their clients to authorize the service's servers based on authentication of their service names. [STANDARDS-TRACK]

Abstract as published in the RFC, via rfc-editor.org.

What “Proposed Standard” means

An entry-level standards-track specification: stable, peer-reviewed and a solid basis for implementation, though it may still evolve before becoming an Internet Standard.

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The canonical text of RFC 5178 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.

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