1 kumpf 1.1.4.2 Using Pegasus Privilege Separation Functionality
 2               
 3               Privilege separation was added to Pegasus starting with Pegasus 2.7.  This 
 4               is a security feature. It allows separation of the functionality so that 
 5               only a minimal set of code runs as a privileged user (ex.  root) in a 
 6               separate process (the executor).  The majority of pegasus runs as a 
 7               nonprivileged user (the cim server).  The CIM Server makes requests on the 
 8               executor for functions that require root privilege.  
 9               
10               The privilege separation functionality is documented in PEP 286.
11               

12 kumpf 1.1.4.3 cimserver is the executor program (see src/Executor).
13               cimservermain is the server program (see src/Server and
14               src/Pegasus/Common/Executor.h).

15 kumpf 1.1.4.2 
16               Privilege separation is build-time optional functionality. To enable privilege
17               separation, define the following environment variable before compiling.
18               
19                   PEGASUS_ENABLE_PRIVILEGE_SEPARATION=true
20               
21               If this build variable is not set, the cimserver runs as the user under which
22               it was started and all privelege separation functionality is disabled.
23               
24               The nonprivileged user for privilege separation is the user under which the
25               cimservermain component executes.  
26               
27               Upon startup the cimserver uses the config parameter "serverUser" to determine
28               this user name.
29               
30               This user name is defined as follows:
31               
32               1. optional serverUser=<user name> on the cimserver commandline
33               2. optional value of serverUser config parameter
34               3. default of "pegasus" if the the config parameter is not found in the
35                  commandline or planned config file.
36 kumpf 1.1.4.2 

37 kumpf 1.1.4.3 The defined user MUST exist or cimserver will terminate immediately.

38 kumpf 1.1.4.2 

39 kumpf 1.1.4.3 4/9/2007