## Overview - Authentication

This topic explains concepts related to authentication. Both the authenticated RPC facility and the GSSAPI let you use shared-secret authentication.

Note: The authenticated RPC facility may also referred to as the protected RPC facility, as it involves services beyond authentication.

When using the authenticated RPC facility, you can choose the authentication protocol that your application uses to perform authentication. DCE shared-secret authentication, which is used by both the authenticated RPC facility and the GSSAPI, is the default authentication protocol (and the chief topic of this topic). It is anticipated that the DCE Security Service may support other authentication protocols (such as DCE public key authentication) in future releases.

For specific information about using the authenticated RPC routines see Basic RPC Routine Usage and RPC and Other DCE Components . For information about the GSSAPI, see Overview of Security and GSSAPI Credentials.

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