Abstract A security mechanism is described for a distributed data processing system. Each server in the system maintains a set of security ratings giving its view of the security levels within the system. When a first server wishes to initiate a connection with a second server, the two servers exchange security information, by means of messages, so as to establish an overall security level for the connection, based on a combination of the security information maintained by both servers. However, if the first server decides that the second server cannot be trusted to discuss security, messages are exchanged containing no security information, and each server establishes its own security level for the connection, based on its own locally held security information.
A distributed data processing system comprising a plurality of servers wherein each server separately maintains security information relating to security levels in the system, and wherein, in operation, when a first server initiates a connection with a second server, these two servers exchange security information to establish an overall security level for the connection based on a combination of the security information maintained by both servers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A distributed data processing system comprising a plurality of servers wherein each server separately maintains security information relating to security levels in the system, and wherein, in operation, when a first server initiates a connection with a second server, these two servers exchange security information to establish an overall security level for the connection based on a combination of the security information maintained by both servers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to Claim 1 wherein, in operation, if the security information maintained by the first server indicates that the second server cannot be trusted to receive security information, the servers exchange messages containing no security information and each server establishes its own security level for the connection based on its own locally held security information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said security information comprises a set of security ratings for each server in the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein each security rating comprises at least one security factor comprising at least one value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein the first server determines that the second server cannot be trusted to receive security information if the security rating of the second server, as viewed by the first server, contains only security factors with only one value.
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