Abstract: A method of authenticating a Web client to a Web server connectable to a distributed file system of a distributed computing environment. The distributed computing environment includes a security service for returning a credential to a user authenticated to access the distributed file system. In response to receipt by the Web server of a user id and password from the Web client, a login protocol is executed with the security service. If the user can be authenticated, a credential is stored in a database of credentials associated with authenticated users. The Web server then returns to the Web client a persistent client state object having a unique identifier therein. This object, sometimes referred to as a cookie, is then used to enable the Web client to browse Web documents in the distributed file system.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating an operating system user's ability to reference objects in a distributed file system having an incompatible namespace. Compatibility is thereby provided between DFS namespaces and operating system pathname syntax not supported in the DFS. A DFS pathname prefix is associated with each drive letter that is attached to a DFS IFS driver. Before an IFS driver is used, an application program issues a command to associate a drive letter with a particular IFS driver. The command issued also carries a DFS pathname prefix within a data buffer. The IFS services the command by validating existence of the DFS pathname prefix, and thereafter stores such prefix into an internal table of the buffer where it is associated with the attached drive letter. File system requests later received by the DFS client IFS driver carrying a pathname containing that drive letter will have their file specifications edited by the DFS code prior to processing.