Usage of OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX

1. Overview

1) OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX is an important initialization parameter to configure Oracle External User environment.
2) External User is a kind of Oracle External Authentication solution.
3) With Oracle External User, the user authentication process is accomplished by operating system automatically.
4) Authorized OS user can access Oracle database directly without providing username and password other than logon with prompting these information.

2. Official Reference

OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX
Parameter type
String
Syntax
OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX = authentication_prefix
Default value
OPS$
Modifiable
No
OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX specifies a prefix that Oracle uses to authenticate users attempting to connect to the server. Oracle concatenates the value of this parameter to the beginning of the user’s operating system account name and password. When a connection request is attempted, Oracle compares the prefixed username with Oracle usernames in the database.
The default value of this parameter is OPS$ for backward compatibility with previous versions. However, you might prefer to set the prefix value to “” (a null string), thereby eliminating the addition of any prefix to operating system account names
Note:
The text of the OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX parameter is case sensitive on some operating systems.
See Also:
l Your operating system-specific Oracle documentation for the default value
Create Oracle database user with OS authentication solution.

3.1 Prerequisite Checking

1) OS Environment
C:\Documents and Settings\ZYY> sqlplus “/as sysdba”
SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.1.0 – Production on 星期四 6 11 17:02:49 2009
Copyright (c) 1982, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.
连接到:
Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 – Production
SQL> SELECT OSUSER, USERNAME, PROGRAM FROM V$SESSION;
OSUSER USERNAME PROGRAM
——————– ——————– ——————–
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (q001)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (QMNC)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (q000)
YYBB\ZYY YYBB\ZYY sqlplus.exe
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (MMNL)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (MMON)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (CJQ0)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (RECO)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (SMON)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (CKPT)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (LGWR)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (DBW0)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (MMAN)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (PSP0)
SYSTEM ORACLE.EXE (PMON)
Note:
n This practice is intended to be taken on Microsoft Windows platform.
n YYBB” is the Computer Name on which runs the Windows OS.
n ZYY” is the User Name which be used to logon to Windows OS.
2) Database Environment
SQL> SHOW PARAMETER OS_AUTHENT
NAME TYPE VALUE
———————————— ———————- ————–
os_authent_prefix string
remote_os_authent boolean FALSE
Note:
n The value of OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX parameter is set to “” (a null string).

3.2 Create External User

1) Create User in Oracle Database
SQL> CREATE USER “YYBB\ZYY” IDENTIFIED EXTERNALLY;
Note:
n In the above demo case, the value of OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX parameter is set to “” (a null string), the corresponding username in Oracle database should be YYBB\ZYY.
n If the value of OS_AUTHENT_PREFIX parameter is set to “OPS$”, the corresponding username in Oracle database should be OPS$YYBB\ZYY.
n Do NOT forget the Double Quotation Marks(“”) embrace the username YYBB\ZYY, otherwise, you will get an ORA-00911 warning against the special character \.
n Be aware of the keyword “EXTERNALLY”.
n Do NOT be reckless with “IDENTIFIED” which should NOT be followed by “BY”.
2) Grant Privileges to Oracle User
SQL> GRANT RESOURCE, CONNECT TO “YYBB\ZYY”;
Note:
n Grant appropriate and Minimum privileges to this Oracle user according to your system security acquirement.
n Oracle user name might be Case Sensitive on some platforms.

3.3 Test External User

1) Logon Oracle Database with External User
C:\Documents and Settings\ZYY>sqlplus /
SQL*Plus: Release 10.2.0.1.0 – Production on 星期四 6 11 17:26:51 2009
Copyright (c) 1982, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.
连接到:
Oracle Database 10g Express Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 – Production
SQL>
Note:
n You do NOT need to provide username and password to logon to Oracle database through sqlplus.
2) Check the Current Logon User
SQL> SHOW USER
USER YYBB\ZYY
SQL> SELECT USERNAME FROM DBA_USERS;
USERNAME
————————————————————
YYBB\ZYY
SYS
SYSTEM
MDSYS
OUTLN
XDB
Note:
n Current logon user is “YYBB\ZYY”.
n You can now access Oracle database via your OS user account directly.

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