Quest Debuts SSO Tool that Bridges Window and Unix Environments

Published: February 16, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Quest Software this week unveiled a new single sign-on (SSO) product called Vintela Authentication Services 3.0 that will let some Unix and Linux users leverage identity credentials stored in Microsoft Active Directory, thereby streamlining identity management in heterogeneous IT environments.

Previously, users on Windows operating systems would have to enter additional user IDs and passwords to access some applications running on Unix or Linux servers. But with Vintela Authentication Services 3.0, applications running on Unix or Linux servers can accept a user's credential from Active Directory, which reduces the need for additional logins, streamlines the user experience, and boosts security, the Aliso Viejo, California, company says.

The only catch with Vintela Authentication Services 3.0 is the Unix or Linux servers that will be bridged to AD must be an SAP application, or one based on IBM's DB2 database middleware. However, the company is publishing an API that will open other applications to AD through Vintela. The product is available now; pricing in the U.S. starts at $325 per server and $45 per user.