Users

Whenever an application connects to a c-treeACE Server, it must identify itself to the c-treeACE Server. The identifying code is called the User ID. To gain access to the c-treeACE Server, the User ID seeking access to the c-treeACE Server must be one already authorized as a valid User ID. A password for the User ID may also be required to access the c-treeACE Server.

If one attempts to log on to a c-treeACE Server with an invalid User ID (i.e., one not issued by the Administrator or created by changing an existing User ID), the c-treeACE Server will deny the request and send a message to that effect (i.e., error message 450). An attempt to log on with a valid User ID but an invalid user password will also be denied, with a message stating the reason (i.e., error message 451).

When an application, i.e., a user running a given application, logs on to the c-treeACE Server, a task user is created to identify the session with the User ID. This is relevant when monitoring or disconnecting clients from the c-treeACE Server.

The c-treeACE Server recognizes four kinds of users:

Administrator

The Administrator, or “super user”, is the only user with a pre-set, and unchangeable, User ID (ADMIN). By having the only initial valid User ID, ADMIN is the first user to gain access to the c-treeACE Server. After changing the password for User ID ADMIN from the initial password, ADMIN, to a secure private password, the Administrator uses the ADMIN User ID and the private password to obtain exclusive access to the Administrator utilities needed to carry out the responsibilities discussed in this manual.

Unique User ID

The Administrator can create new User IDs (and passwords) for other users, who then log onto the c-treeACE Server with these names. This includes new members to the ADMIN group with limited Administrator capabilities.

Application-based User ID

Application programs can be designed to supply a given User ID code when attempting to log on the c-treeACE Server, regardless of who the user is. This User ID is treated like a unique User ID, although several users may share a common ID. In other words, the application/user is allowed onto the c-treeACE Server only if the User ID (and the password, if any) supplied to the c-treeACE Server has been authorized.

Guest Users

Users without a unique User ID. An application program can be designed to log onto a c-treeACE Server without requiring the user to supply a User ID and without supplying an application-based User ID. When no User ID is supplied to the c-treeACE Server as an application logs onto the c-treeACE Server, the c-treeACE Server automatically assigns the special User ID “GUEST” to that session.

User IDs can be up to 31 characters long. Characters can be letters, numbers, or punctuation marks. User IDs are not case sensitive (i.e., upper and lower case characters are treated as the same).

User passwords can be up to nine characters long. Characters can be letters, numbers, or punctuation marks. Passwords are case sensitive (i.e., upper case and lower case characters are treated as different).

Note: Users, including ADMIN, can use the ctpass utility (see "User’s Control of Security Options") to change their own password, and ADMIN can always use the c-treeACE Server Administrator Utility, described below, to review current passwords for all User IDs.