Oracle Previews Centralized Security and User Authentication Services for Linux

Delivering on its commitment to making Linux deployment easier and faster for users, Oracle today announced the preview release of Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems, a new offering within Oracle® Identity Management, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems is designed to make user management in operating systems more efficient, secure and centralized. Together with Oracle Internet Directory, a highly scalable LDAP directory that leverages the high availability and security features of the Oracle Database, Oracle provides customers a pre-integrated, easy-to-install and configure, centralized user authentication and storage solution for Linux and Unix.
The increase in mission critical applications being run on Linux has made it imperative for organizations of all sizes to securely manage access to these systems. Existing directories for Linux often require administrators to become directory and security experts, while supporting only simple, embedded databases for storage. The preview release of Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems features a secure and efficient means for user authentication with zero-touch administration of the directory. Additionally, it enables administrators running Linux to use existing graphical and command-line user management tools to manage users - relieving them of the need to craft new processes for everything from adding a user to changing a password.

Comprehensive, Integrated Authentication
Available via the Oracle Unbreakable Linux Network, the Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems preview is designed to enable Oracle Unbreakable Linux Support users to rapidly experience the benefits of streamlined secure user authentication. The Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems preview is comprised of three key components including:

* Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) - standard operating modules available on most Linux and Unix-based systems that support externalized authentication;
* Oracle Internet Directory - standards-based directory server that leverages Oracle Database to store users, groups, roles and entitlements; and
* Tools and Automation - tools and scripts that configure both PAM and Oracle Internet Directory components, provide simplified user migration and help ensure strong native security between network endpoints.

“With its hot-pluggable architecture, Oracle Identity Management makes it easier for organizations to incorporate identity and access management capabilities into their Oracle and non-Oracle environments,” said Hasan Rizvi, vice president, Security and Identity Management Products, Oracle. “The preview release of Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems marks another example of Oracle’s commitment to supporting heterogeneous security capabilities that are reflective of our customers’ data centers - and the growth of Linux - while helping them more rapidly centralize the authentication and management of their operating system accounts.”

Support and Availability
The Oracle Authentication Services for Operating Systems preview is available for free download at http://www.oracle.com/technology/software/products/oid/index.html. Terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. The preview supports and integrates seamlessly with both Oracle Enterprise Linux and the fully compatible Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Oracle plans to deliver support for additional operating systems in the future.