Standard mechanisms to manage domain->realm mappings in multi-domain infrastructure

Newman, Edward (GTI) edward_newman at ml.com
Wed Aug 15 18:37:02 EDT 2007


What are the preferred mechanisms to manage DNS domain to Kerberos Realm
mappings in large implementations? 

I want to avoid having to redistribute a krb5.conf to every client each
time this changes so was wondering how others have solved this problem. 

Need some solution that supports a combination of the following
platforms:

- Active Directory 2003
- MIT Libraries
- Sun Java JDK
- Quest Vintela
+ other proprietary implementations

Looking online suggests the following:

1) DNS TXT records

- DNS TXT records used to link a DNS domain to Realm via
_Kerberos.<Domain-name>
- Apparently vulnerable to MITM attacks (is this an issue in closed
environments?)
- Appears to be support by MIT & Heimdal but not by Java JDK Kerberos
libraries or various commercial products
- Still an IETF draft (draft ietf cat krb dns locate 02 txt)

2) Kerberos Server referrals

- KDC returns referrals to client when request made to local environment
- supported by Windows AD 2003 & MIT (limited documentation on how
mappings managed for referral process)
- Still an IETF draft (draft ietf krb wg kerberos referrals 09 txt)

3) Standard krb5.conf/ini [domain_realm] mappings

- appears to be best supported by various products
- pain to deploy in large environments


Thoughts? Suggestions? Is this on the Kerberos-wg plan?
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