pam_auth(8)						      System Manager's Manual						       pam_auth(8)

NAME

       pam_auth - Squid PAM authentication helper

SYNOPSIS

       squid_pam_auth [-n "service name"] [-t TTL] [-o] [-1]

DESCRIPTION

       This helper allows Squid to connect to a mostly any available PAM database to validate the user name and password of Basic HTTP authentica-
       tion.

       -s service-name
	      Specifies the PAM service name Squid uses, defaults to "squid"

       -t TTL Unless the -1 option is used, this specified for how long the connection to the PAM database should be kept open and reused for  new
	      logins. Defaults to 60 seconds.

       -o     Do not perform the PAM account management group (account expiration etc)

       -1     Specifies  "One shot" mode, where a new PAM connection will be opened for each new user. This is how PAM is normally used and may be
	      required by some backend databases.  The default is to reuse the PAM connection to maximize performance. (see -t above)

CONFIGURATION

       The program needs a PAM service to be configured in /etc/pam.conf or /etc/pam.d/<servicename>

       The default service name is "squid", and the program makes use of the 'auth' and 'account' management groups to verify the password and the
       accounts validity.

       For  details  on  how  to  configure  PAM services, see the PAM documentation for your system. This manual does not cover PAM configuration
       details.

NOTES

       When used for authenticating to local UNIX shadow password databases the program must be running as root or else it won't  have	sufficient
       permissions  to access the user password database. Such use of this program is not recommended, but if you absolutely need to then make the
       program setuid root

	      chown root pam_auth
	      chmod u+s pam_auth

       Please note that in such configurations it is also strongly recommended that the program is moved into a directory where normal users  can-
       not access it, as this mode of operation will allow any local user to brute-force other users passwords. Also note the program has not been
       fully audited and the author cannot be held responsible for any security issues due to such installations.

AUTHOR

       Squid pam_auth and this manual is written by Henrik Nordstrom <hno@squid-cache.org>

COPYRIGHT

       Squid pam_auth and this manual is Copyright 1999,2002 Henrik Nordstrom <hno@squid-cache.org>

QUESTIONS

       Questions on the usage of this program can be sent to the Squid Users <squid-users@squid-cache.org> mailing list.

REPORTING BUGS

       Report bugs or bug-fixes to Squid Bugs <squid-bugs@squid-cache.org> or ideas for new improvements  to  Squid  Developers  <squid-dev@squid-
       cache.org>

SEE ALSO

       pam(8), PAM Systems Administrator Guide

Squid PAM Auth							    15 May 2002 						       pam_auth(8)