Abstract: A network system server that provides password synchronization between a main data store and a plurality of secondary data stores is disclosed. The network system server includes a security server, which is coupled to the main data store, a plurality of clients, which is coupled to the security server for accessing the main data store wherein each client maintains a unique, modifiable password, a password synchronization server, which is coupled to security server and the plurality of secondary data stores, and a password repository, which is coupled to the password synchronization server, that stores the passwords. One of the secondary data stores can retrieve the passwords via the password synchronization server so that each client is able to maintain a single, unique password among the plurality of secondary data stores. Password retrieval is instigated by at least one of the plurality of secondary data stores regardless of the current password status of the secondary data stores.

Abstract: A network system server that provides password composition checking for a plurality of clients is disclosed. The network system server includes a main data store, a security server, which is coupled to the main data store and the plurality of clients, a password synchronization server, which is coupled to the security server, a plurality of password strength servers, each of which is coupled to the password synchronization server, that provides password integrity among the plurality of clients so that each client maintains a password whose composition is consistent with the network server system. Each of the password strength servers is uniquely programmable with respect to performing password composition checking.

Abstract: A network system server that provides password synchronization between a main data store and a plurality of secondary data stores is disclosed. The network server further includes a security server, which is coupled to the main data store, a plurality of clients, coupled to the security server for accessing the main data store wherein each client maintains a unique, modifiable password, and a password synchronization server, coupled to the security server and the plurality of secondary data stores, that provides password propagation synchronization to each of the secondary data stores from a user associated with one of the plurality of clients so that user is able to maintain a single, unique password among plurality of secondary data stores. The password propagation is imposed on the plurality of secondary data stores regardless of the current password status of the secondary data stores.

Abstract: A system wide sign-on capability in a distributed computing environment (DCE) is provided. Acquired distributed computing environment credentials are usable by any process/window on a desktop. DCE logon application programming interfaces create and recognize the presence of a credentials cache capable of being used by DCE processes in the system. System wide logon occurs whenever the logon API is invoked with the environment variable set. This API is called as a result of the system logon option having been selected. The API updates a global variable with the name of the credentials cache. A process variable is set to the global value by initialization logic for all subsequently invoked applications. As a result, any calls made by these application will acquire the credentials identified by the variable.