Support for GSSAPI-encrypted connection v42.7.3.1

The EDB JDBC driver supports GSSAPI-encrypted connections for EDB Postgres Advanced Server 12 onwards.

The gssEncMode parameter controls GSSAPI-encrypted connection. The parameter can have any of these values:

• Disable. Disables any attempt to connect using GSS-encrypted mode.

• Allow. Attempts to connect in plain text. Then, if the server requests it, it switches to encrypted mode.

• Prefer. Attempts to connect in encrypted mode and falls back to plain text if it fails to acquire an encrypted connection.

• Require. Attempts to connect in encrypted mode and fails to connect if that isn't possible.

GSSAPI/SSPI authentication

The default behavior of GSSAPI/SSPI authentication on Windows and Linux platforms is as following:

• On Windows, the EDB JDBC driver tries to connect using SSPI.
• On Linux, the EDB JDBC driver tries to connect using GSSAPI.

This default behavior is controlled using the gsslib connection parameter that takes one of the following values:

• auto. The driver attempts for SSPI authentication when the server requests it, the EDB JDBC client is running on Windows, and the waffle libraries required for SSPI are on the CLASSPATH. Otherwise it opts for Kerberos/GSSAPI authentication via JSSE. Unlike libpq, the EDB JDBC driver doesn't use the Windows SSPI libraries for Kerberos (GSSAPI) requests.

• gssapi. This option forces JSSE's GSSAPI authentication even when SSPI is available.

• sspi. This option forces SSPI authentication. This authentication fails on Linux or where SSPI is unavailable.

Using SSPI (Windows-only environment)

When the EDB Postgres Advanced Server and JDBC client both are on Windows, the JDBC driver connects with SSPI authentication using one of the following connection strings:

con = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:edb://localhost:5444/edb");
OR
con = DriverManager.getConnection("jdbc:edb://localhost:5444/edb?gsslib=sspi"); 

Example

The example assumes that SSPI authentication is configured on a Windows machine. Suppose the edb-jdbc18.jar path is <PATH_DRIVER> and the waffle libraries path is <PATH_WAFFLE>. Here's how to set CLASSPATH and run the JEdb sample:

set CLASSPATH=<PATH_DRIVER>\edb-jdbc18.jar;<PATH_WAFFLE>\*;
javac JEdb.java
java JEdb

Using GSSAPI (Linux-only environment)

When the EDB Postgres Advanced Server and JDBC client both are on Linux, the JDBC driver connects with GSSAPI authentication using the following connection string:

Properties connectionProps = new Properties();
connectionProps.setProperty("user", "postgres/myrealm.example@MYREALM.EXAMPLE");
String databaseUrl = "jdbc:edb://myrealm.example:5444/edb";
con = DriverManager.getConnection(databaseUrl, connectionProps);

Example

This example assumes that GSS authentication is configured on a Linux machine.

Create a file named pgjdbc.conf with the following contents.

pgjdbc {
com.sun.security.auth.module.Krb5LoginModule required
doNotPrompt=true
useTicketCache=true
renewTGT=true
debug=true;
};

Suppose pgjdbc.conf is placed at /etc/pgjdbc.conf. Here's how to run JEdb sample:

javac JEdb.java
java -Djava.security.auth.login.config=/etc/pgjdbc.conf -cp .:edb-jdbc18.jar JEdb

Using SSPI/GSSAPI (Windows and Linux environment)

When the EDB Postgres Advanced Server is on Linux with authentication configured as GSSAPI, and the JDBC client is on Windows, the EDB JDBC connects either using SSPI or GSSAPI authentication.

For gsslib=sspi or gsslib=auto, EDB JDBC uses SSPI. For gsslib=gssapi it uses GSSAPI authentication.

Example

This example assumes that GSS authentication is configured between Windows Active Directory and a Linux machine.

SSPI

In this scenario, JDBC is using SSPI authentication. Create the connection using the following code:

Properties connectionProps = new Properties();
connectionProps.setProperty("user", "david@MYREALM.EXAMPLE");
String databaseUrl = "jdbc:edb://pg.myrealm.example:5444/edb?gsslib=sspi";
con = DriverManager.getConnection(databaseUrl, connectionProps);

Running an EDB JDBC-based app in this case is the same as described in Using SSPI (Windows-only environment).

GSSAPI

In this scenario, JDBC is using GSSAPI authentication. Create the connection using the following code:

Properties connectionProps = new Properties();
connectionProps.setProperty("user", "david@MYREALM.EXAMPLE");
String databaseUrl = "jdbc:edb://pg.myrealm.example:5444/edb?gsslib=gssapi";
con = DriverManager.getConnection(databaseUrl, connectionProps);

Set up the Kerberos credential cache file and obtain a ticket.

Create a new directory, say c:\temp, and a system environment variable KRB5CCNAME. In the variable value field, enter c:\temp\krb5cache.

Obtain a ticket for a Kerberos principal either using MIT Kerberos Ticket Manager or using a keytab file using the ktpass utility.

Create the pgjdbc.conf file with the same contents described in Using GSSAPI (Linux-only environment).

Suppose pgjdbc.conf is placed at c:\pgjdbc.conf. Here's how to run JEdb sample:

set CLASSPATH=C:\Program Files\edb\jdbc\edb-jdbc18.jar;
java -Djava.security.auth.login.config=c:\pgjdbc.conf JEdb

• On this page
• GSSAPI/SSPI authentication
• Using SSPI (Windows-only environment)
• Using GSSAPI (Linux-only environment)
• Using SSPI/GSSAPI (Windows and Linux environment)