[1] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

pluggable authentication module
     
         pam the new industry standard integrated login
        framework.  pam is used by system entry components, such as
        the common desktop environment's dtlogin, to authenticate
        users logging into a unix system.  it provides pluggability
        for a variety of system-entry services.  pam's ability to
        stack authentication modules can be used to integrate
        login with different authentication mechanisms such as
        rsa, dce and kerberos, and thus unify login mechanisms.
        pam can also integrate smart card authentication.
     
        white paper http://www.gr.osf.org/book/psm-wppr.htm.
     
        osf-rfc 86.0 v. samar, r. schemers, "unified login with
        pluggable authentication modules pam", oct 1995.
     
        1997-07-18
     
     
see also:
login framework common desktop environment unix stack modules 
rsa dce kerberos smart card lt;white papergt; 

Module >> M Words
Module, definition of term: Module
module_pag1.html

Authentication >> A Words
Authentication, definition of term: Authentication
authentication_pag1.html