Authentication Configuration

6.7 Authentication Configuration

After you have set up your root password, you will have the option of setting up different network password authentications:

Enable NIS -- allows you to run a group of computers in the same Network Information Service domain with a common password and group file. There are two options here to choose from:
- NIS Domain -- this option allows you to specify which domain or group of computers your system will belong to.
- NIS Server -- this option causes your computer to use a specific NIS server, rather than ``broadcasting'' a message to the local area network asking for any available server to host your system.
Enable Shadow Passwords -- provides a very secure method of retaining passwords for you. The /etc/psswd file is replaced by /etc/shadow which is only readable by root.
MD5 Passwordallows a long password to be used up to 256 characters, instead of the standard eight letters or less.

Please Note:To configure the NIS option, you must be connected to an NIS network. If you are unsure whether or not you are connected to an NIS network, please ask you system administrator.

Unless you are setting up a NIS password, you will notice that both Shadow password and MD5 are selected. We recommend you use both to make your machine as secure as possible (see Figure 74).

Figure 74: Authentication Configuration