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Identities
One of the most important additions with the one account system is the usage of identities. Identities act as tokens that grant an account special features. An identity could be used to grant more disk space, allow the user access to certain machines, give permission to handin programs in certain classes or any number of other privileges. When an account is granted some identity, that account assumes all atributes of the identity.
Identities are provided as yp maps. There is a database of information that is available from anywhere in the department, and this serves up the attributes associated with the identites. The easiest way to access this information from an account is to use the ypcat(1) command. Typing ypcat <type> will give each identity using that field, and what the value is. For example, typing ypcat usage will give the extra disk space (usage) that each identity grants.
In general, there is one identity for each class. There is also one each for groups like consultant, TA, graphics, etc. Instead of creating new accounts for each of these groups, an already existing account will simply be given some new identities. For example, an undergrad concentrator who is also a consultant and is taking cs123 would have identities ugrad, concentrator, consultant and 123student. This might grant an initial 10 megs of disk space and access to a personal web page (from concentrator), extra disk space (both for 123 student and consultant) and permissions to handin 123 assignments. If an account has no identities, then it is removed from the system.
Next: Account Names Up: Creating and Maintaing Accounts Previous: Major Changes Seth Proctor
1998-09-09