Introduction

IBM® Java™ Generic Security Service API (JGSS) Version 8 is a Java Generic Security Service Application Programming Interface (GSSAPI) framework with Kerberos V5 as the underlying default security mechanism. GSSAPI is a standardized abstract interface under which can be plugged different security mechanisms based on private-key, public-key and other security technologies. GSSAPI shields secure applications from the complexities and peculiarities of the different underlying security mechanisms. GSSAPI provides identity and message origin authentication, message integrity and message confidentiality.

Leveraging the Java Cryptographic Provider Architecture, IBM JGSS offers seamless pluggability of different security systems. IBM JGSS Version 8 also features optional Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS) Kerberos login interface and authorization checks. JAAS augments the access control features of Java, 2 which is based on CodeSource with access controls based on authenticated principal identities.