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Principals

A DCE principal is an identity that is authenticated by the Security Service. When you log into your system, you use your principal name. Principals can be organized into groups and into organizations that contain groups of principals. Information associated with a principal includes information that is traditionally kept in UNIX group and password files, such as the username, group ID, members of a group, and a user's home directory. By default, a principal is known within the bounds of a cell. By creating a special account that indicates you trust another cell's authentication service, you can enable principals from other cells to participate securely within your cell.