Client-side security

Mike Oothoudt (oothoudt@lanl.gov)
Tue, 19 May 1998 07:24:02 -0600

Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19980519072402.009df250@aotmail2.atdiv.lanl.gov>
Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 07:24:02 -0600
To: java-security@web1.javasoft.com
From: oothoudt@lanl.gov (Mike Oothoudt)
Subject: Client-side security

The "JDK 1.1.x -Signed Applet Example" Step 3 requires operations on each
and every client machine that needs to access the signed applet. The
instructions appear to require the client to copy the certificate to the
local machine and run javakey. How is the typical PC user supposed to get
a copy of the certificate? a copy of javakey? Is there a simple way to
acomplish this distribution?

In my case I have 8 Sun/Solaris 2.5.1 systems, about 50 PCs and about 50
Macs as clients inside a company firewall. In addition there are 100-200
other PCs/Macs inside the company firewall will want occasional access to
my applets. Manual installation by me is impractical. The owners of the
client machines are the administrators and their computer expertise ranges
from nill (managers, low level technicians) to Solaris/PC/Mac system
administrators/programmers. The distribution must either be automatic or a
few simple steps that anyone can execute.

A solution using Java Plug-In is ok--I am willing to have the Macs wait for
Apple to get it implemented.