Error Handling

· Major status values, which are generic API routine errors or calling errors defined in RFC 1509.

· Minor status values, which indicate DCE-specific errors.

If a routine has output parameters that contain pointers for storage allocated by the routine, the output parameters will always contain a valid pointer even if the routine returns an error. If no storage was allocated, the routine sets the pointer to NULL and sets any length fields associated with the pointers (such as in the gss_buffer_desc structure) to 0 (zero).

Minor status values usually contain more detailed information about the error. They are not, however, portable between GSSAPI implementations. When designing portable applications, use major status values for handling errors. Use minor status values to debug applications and to display error and error-recovery information to users.