DATACOM and RACF PASSPHRASE usage

Products

• Datacom
• Datacom/AD
• Datacom/DB

Issue/Introduction

The z/OS RACF team will implement PASSPHRASE (up to 100 characters in a pass phrase in addition to passwords). Are changes needed in Datacom?

Environment

Release : 15.1

Component : Datacom/AD

Component : Datacom/DB

Resolution

If External Security has not been implemented in the Datacom Multi-User ( MUF ) , all logins are managed using internal data tables, and there is no interaction with RACF or other security systems. 

If External Security has been activated in the Datacom MUF then RACF is being used for user authentication and resource checking. 

Datacom/DB serves as the database repository used by applications such as DB Server, DDOL, DQ, and SQL to access, modify, and delete rows. While Datacom Server supports passphrase usage, user authentication and access privileges for all applications are managed through external security mechanisms like RACF, ACF2, and Top Secret.

In other words, the concept of passwords or passphrases does not apply directly to the Datacom/DB engine itself.

Datacom Server delivered PASSPHRASE support.  See the announcement in the release notes: Password Phrase Support for Datacom Server (LU14394, LU14395, LU14582, LU14583) .

Additional Information

As always, please contact Broadcom support for Datacom if you have further questions.