org.apache.jackrabbit.core.security.principal
Interface PrincipalProvider

All Known Implementing Classes:

AbstractPrincipalProvider, DefaultPrincipalProvider, FallbackPrincipalProvider

public interface PrincipalProvider

This interface defines methods to provide access to sources of Principals. This allows the security framework share any external sources for authorization and authentication, as may be used by a custom LoginModule for example.

See Also:

for more details about principals, users and groups.

Method Summary

boolean	canReadPrincipal(Session session, Principal principalToRead) Tests if the provided session is allowed to read the given principal.
void	close() This is called when a provider is not longer used by the repository.
PrincipalIterator	findPrincipals(String simpleFilter) Searches for Principals that match the given String.
PrincipalIterator	findPrincipals(String simpleFilter, int searchType) Searches for Principals that match the given String.
PrincipalIterator	getGroupMembership(Principal principal) Returns an iterator over all group principals for which the given principal is either direct or indirect member of.
Principal	getPrincipal(String principalName) Returns the principal with the given name if is known to this provider
PrincipalIterator	getPrincipals(int searchType) Returns an iterator over all principals that match the given search type.
void	init(Properties options) Initialize this provider.

Method Detail

getPrincipal

Principal getPrincipal(String principalName)

Returns the principal with the given name if is known to this provider

Parameters:

principalName - the name of the principal to retrieve

Returns:

return the requested principal or null

findPrincipals

PrincipalIterator findPrincipals(String simpleFilter)

Searches for Principals that match the given String. NOTE: Groups are included in the search result.

Parameters:

simpleFilter -

Returns:

See Also:

findPrincipals(String,int)

findPrincipals

PrincipalIterator findPrincipals(String simpleFilter,
                                 int searchType)

Searches for Principals that match the given String.

Parameters:

simpleFilter -

searchType - searchType Any of the following constants:

• PrincipalManager.SEARCH_TYPE_ALL
• PrincipalManager.SEARCH_TYPE_GROUP
• PrincipalManager.SEARCH_TYPE_NOT_GROUP

Returns:

See Also:

findPrincipals(String)

getPrincipals

PrincipalIterator getPrincipals(int searchType)

Returns an iterator over all principals that match the given search type.

Parameters:

searchType - searchType Any of the following constants:

• PrincipalManager.SEARCH_TYPE_ALL
• PrincipalManager.SEARCH_TYPE_GROUP
• PrincipalManager.SEARCH_TYPE_NOT_GROUP

Returns:

an iterator over all principals that match the given search type.

getGroupMembership

PrincipalIterator getGroupMembership(Principal principal)

Returns an iterator over all group principals for which the given principal is either direct or indirect member of. If a principal is a direct member of a group, then Group.isMember(Principal) evaluates to true. A principal is an indirect member of a group if any of its groups (to any degree of separation) is direct memeber of the group.

Example:
If Principal is member of Group A, and Group A is member of Group B, this method will return Group A and Group B.

Parameters:

principal - the principal to return it's membership from.

Returns:

an iterator returning all groups the given principal is member of.

init

void init(Properties options)

Initialize this provider.

Parameters:

options - the options that are set

close

void close()

This is called when a provider is not longer used by the repository. An implementation can then release any resources bound to this provider, eg. disconnect from a backend system.

canReadPrincipal

boolean canReadPrincipal(Session session,
                         Principal principalToRead)

Tests if the provided session is allowed to read the given principal. Since the principal providers do not restrict the access on the prinicipals they provide, this method is used by the PrincipalManger to ensure proper access rights for the client requesting the principals.

Parameters:

session -

principalToRead - The principal to be accessed by the specified subject.

Returns:

true if the session is allowed to read the principal; false otherwise.