HP CIFS Server Administrator Guide Version A.02.04.04 (5070-6710, October 2011)

8 Kerberos Support
Introduction
The Kerberos protocol is regulated by the IETF RFC 1510. Kerberos was adopted by Microsoft for
Windows 2000, and is the default authentication protocol for Windows 2000, Windows 2003,
Windows XP, and Windows Vista clients. For the HP CIFS Server, Kerberos authentication is limited
exclusively to server membership in a Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 domain, and only
when the HP CIFS Server is configured with "security = ads".
This chapter provides a brief overview of Kerberos and a variety of Kerberos configuration
information including configuration detail which can be used when HP CIFS Server co-exists with
other HP-UX applications that make use of the Kerberos security protocol. For basic Windows
2003 and Windows 2008 domain membership configuration, see “Windows 2003 and Windows
2008 Domains” (page 69). For more detailed CIFS related Kerberos information, refer to the HP
white paper HP CIFS Server and Kerberos, at the following web site:
http://docs.hp.com/en/netcom.html
then navigate to CIFS.
Kerberos Overview
Kerberos is an authentication protocol which utilizes shared secrets and encryption to decode keys
between an authenticator, authenticatee, and some resource that the authenticatee requires access
to. In the particular case of HP CIFS Server, the following applies
• Windows Key Distribution Center (KDC): Authenticator
• Windows client: Authenticatee
• HP CIFS Server: Resource
The protocol exchanges do not include actual passwords passed over the wire, therefore a password
cannot be sniffed and unencrypted to gain access to a resource. Instead, encrypted keys are passed
over the wire and the 3 principals (KDC, Windows client, and CIFS server) each use pre-arranged
secrets to decode the keys and allow access. The secrets are not transferred. The critical components
of the exchanges are:
• Windows Key Distribution Center (KDC): Central Kerberos Authority for a domain
• Long-Term Key: Persistent key that is derived from a client's password
• Session Key: Short-term key that is used for authentication before it expires
• Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT): Allows a client access to the KDC to get a service ticket from
TGS
• Ticket Granting Service (TGS): Exchange that provides client access to a CIFS server's service
• Authentication Service: Exchange that actually allows client access to the KDC
For a comprehensive Microsoft Kerberos implementation white paper, refer to the following web
site:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/deploy/confeat/kerbers.mspx
Introduction 109