[kwlug disc.] Understanding the X Window System

[Chris Frey]

On Tue, Feb 06, 2007 at 04:53:16PM -0500, Unsolicited wrote:
> ssh CAN use userids, passwords, certificates, or one or all.
> Certificates are similar beasties to what gnuPG and https use. Usually
> all placed in different places. [This is why things like PAM, and
> non-VNC authentication mechanisms that use it, can reduce the
> complexity in your life.] X's magic cookies are equivalent to SSH's
> certificates. Otherwise, one has zero to do with the other.

Just want to clarify.  SSH's certificates are more akin to gpg's public/private
key pairs.  X's magic cookies are akin to your password.  And they
are stored in the clear.

- Chris