Authen::Krb5::Simple(3pm)				User Contributed Perl Documentation				 Authen::Krb5::Simple(3pm)

NAME

       Authen::Krb5::Simple - Basic user authentication using Kerberos 5

SYNOPSIS

	 use Authen::Krb5::Simple;

	 # Create a new Authen::Krb5::Simple object using
	 # the system default realm.
	 #
	 my $krb = Authen::Krb5::Simple->new();

	 # Authenticate a user.
	 #
	 my $authen = $krb->authenticate($user, $password);

	 unless($authen) {
	     my $errmsg = $krb->errstr();
	     die "User: $user authentication failed: $errmsg
";
	 }

	 # Get the current default realm.
	 #
	 my $realm = $krb->realm();

	 # Set the current realm
	 #
	 $krb->realm('MY.NEW.REALM');

	 # Create a new object pointing to another realm.
	 #
	 my $alt_krb = Authen::Krb5::Simple->new(realm => 'OTHER.REALM');
	 ...

DESCRIPTION

       The "Authen::Krb5::Simple" module provides a means to authenticate a user/password using Kerberos 5 protocol.  The module's authenticate
       function takes a username (or user@kerberos_realm) and a password, and authenticates that user using the local Kerberos 5 installation.	It
       was initially created to allow perl scripts to perform authentication against a Microsoft Active Directory (AD) server configured to accept
       Kerberos client requests.

       It is important to note: This module only performs simple authentication.  It does not get, grant, use, or retain any kerberos tickets.	It
       will check user credentials against the Kerberos server (as configured on the local system) each time the authenticate method is called.

CONSTRUCTOR

       new

	   The new method creates the Authen::Krb5::Simple object.  It can take an optional argument hash.  At present the only recognized
	   argument is "realm".

	   If no realm is specified, the default realm for the local host will be assumed.  Once set, the specified realm will be used for all
	   subsequent authentication calls.  The realm can be changed using the realm function (see below).

	   Examples:

	   Using the default realm:

	     my $krb = Authen::Krb5::Simple->new();

	   specifying a realm:

	     my $krb = Authen::Krb5::Simple->new(realm => 'another.realm.net');

METHODS

       authenticate($user[@realm], $password)

	   the authenticate method takes the user (or user@realm) and a password, and uses kerberos 5 (the local systems installation) to
	   authenticate the user.

	   if the user/password is good, authenticate will return a true value.  Otherwise, a false value is returned and the error code is stored
	   in the object.

	     if($krb->authenticate($user, $pw)) {
		 print "$user authentication successful
";
	     } else {
		 print "$user authentication failed: ", $krb->errstr(), "
";
	     }

       realm( )

       realm(NEW.REALM)

	   The realm method is used to set or get the current default realm.  If an argument is passed to this method, the default realm is set to
	   that value. If no argument is supplied, the current realm is returned.

       errstr

	   The errstr method will return the error message from the most recent authentication call.

       errcode

	   The errstr method will return the krb5 error code from the most recent authentication call.	This value will not be very useful.  Use
	   the errstr method to get a meaningful error message.

BUGS

       This version of Authen::Krb5::Simple does not support null or empty passwords.  If you pass an undefined value or empty string ('') as a
       password, authenticate return false and set the error to indicate that null or empty passwords are not supported.

AUTHOR

       Damien S. Stuart, <dstuart@dstuart.org>

SEE ALSO

       perl, Kerberos5 documentation.

perl v5.14.2							    2012-01-08						 Authen::Krb5::Simple(3pm)