Re: Re: [PATCHES] Patch to include PAM support...

On Sat, 25 Aug 2001, Tom Lane wrote:

> "Dominic J. Eidson" <sauron(at)the-infinite(dot)org> writes:
> >> Could we change the PAM code so that it tries to run the PAM auth cycle
> >> immediately on receipt of a connection request? If it gets a callback
> >> for a password, it abandons the PAM conversation, sends off a password
> >> request packet, and then tries again when the password comes back.
>
> > I am attempting to do this in a way that's relatively elegant, and the
> > code should get sent to -patches tomorrow sometime , after I've had time
> > to do some testing.
>
> I think that the main objection to the original form of the PAM patch
> was that it would lock up the postmaster until the client responded.
> However, that is *not* a concern any longer, since the current code
> forks first and authenticates after. Accordingly, you shouldn't be
> complexifying the PAM code to avoid waits.

The complexity comes from getting PAM to only send a password request to
the frontend if the PAM authentication needs a password, and not
otherwise. As I'd mentioned to Bruce before, I think PAM authentication
should be treated like password authentication - if there's a potential
that a password might be required, request a password, whether it's needed
or not. But PeterE asked that it only request a password if a password is
needed, so I'm fighting to get it to do exactly that.

(I already knew auth is done in the backend, and therefor can be blocking :)

--
Dominic J. Eidson
"Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-menu!" - Gimli
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