HP CIFS Server Administrator's Guide Version A.03.01.04 (5900-2303), April 2012

P
Public Key An encryption method by which two users exchange data securely, but in one direction only. A
user, who has a private key, creates a corresponding public key. This public key can be given
to anyone. Anyone who wishes to send encrypted data to the user may encrypt the data using
the public key. Only the user who possesses the private key can decrypt the data.
Public Key
Infrastructure
Method of managing public key encryption. Although public key technology has the advantage
of never exchanging decryption keys, it has the disadvantage of being difficult to manage. Some
issues include distribution of public keys with proof of the key's ownership, and revocation of
expired or terminated keys.
S
Samba An open source product that first appeared in the mid-1990's. Samba provides NT file and print
server capability for UNIX systems, including most of the capabilities of Advanced Server for
UNIX, with the exception of the Primary Domain Controller (PDC) and Backup Domain Controller
(BDC) synchronization protocols. Although Samba is widely used, vendor support for it is not
generally available.
Secret Key Secret key, also known as symmetric-key or shared-key, encryption is a ciphering technique by
which two users exchange data by encrypting and decrypting data with a shared secret key.
Data is both encrypted and decrypted with the same key. The secret key must be exchanged
securely (such as through the "cones of silence") since anyone knowing the secret key can decrypt
the data.
SMB Server Message Block, the file-sharing protocol at the heart of Windows networking. SMB is
shared by Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups, and OS/2 LAN Manager.
CIFS is essentially a renaming of this protocol.
174 Glossary