Abstract: A single sign-on (SSO) mechanism to enable a given user to access a target application on a target resource in a distributed computer enterprise. One or more configuration directives each identifying a given logon process and any associated methods required to access the target application on the target resource are stored in a preferably global-accessible database (CIM). For each of a set of users, a preferably global-accessible database (PKM) stores user-specific and application-specific information enabling the user to access and logon to one or more target resources. During a particular session, a logon coordinator (LC) mechanism coordinates given user information with the configuration directive to enable the given user to perform a given action with respect to the target application without specifying the given logon process and the application-specific information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing exceptions occurring during an execution of a plurality of objects in an object oriented environment. Under the present invention a message from an object is received in which the message requires processing by the plurality of objects. Error information is stored in a data structure in response to each occurrence of an error in each of the plurality of objects. This data structure is returned to the object.