Authentication Configuration; User Information - Red Hat ENTERPRISE LINUX 4 System Administration Manual

Chapter 26.

Authentication Configuration

When a user logs in to a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system, the username and password combination
must be verified, or authenticated, as a valid and active user. Sometimes the information to verify the
user is located on the local system, and other times the system defers the authentication to a user
database on a remote system.
The Authentication Configuration Tool provides a graphical interface for configuring NIS, LDAP,
and Hesiod to retrieve user information as well as for configuring LDAP, Kerberos, and SMB as
authentication protocols.
Note
If you configured a medium or high security level during installation or with the Security
Level Configuration Tool, network authentication methods, including NIS and LDAP, are
not allowed through the firewall.
This chapter does not explain each of the different authentication types in detail. Instead, it explains
how to use the Authentication Configuration Tool to configure them. For more information about the
specific authentication types, refer to the Reference Guide.
To start the graphical version of the Authentication Configuration Tool from the desktop, select the
Main Menu Button (on the Panel) => System Settings => Authentication or type the command
system-config-authentication at a shell prompt (for example, in an XTerm or a GNOME
terminal). To start the text-based version, type the command authconfig as root at a shell prompt.
Important
After exiting the authentication program, the changes made take effect immediately.

26.1. User Information

The User Information tab has several options. To enable an option, click the empty checkbox
beside it. To disable an option, click the checkbox beside it to clear the checkbox. Click OK to exit the
program and apply the changes.
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