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Re: ldapv2-schema and CA Certificates



Here's the problem we are faced with: 
 
The X.509 standard has been implemented in two different ways.  One community stores hierarchical certs in the crossCertificatePair attribute.  Another community stores hierarchical certs in the cACertificate attribute.
 
The defect report is written to accommodate the community that stores hierarchical certs in the crossCertificatePair attribute.  Where does that leave the other community?
 
One might argue that the verbiage in the defect report doesn't mandate that all communities use the crossCertificatePair attribute for storage of hierarchical certs (since "may" is used in the report).  But since "may" IS used, it doesn't solve the problem of where to store hierarchical certs, so why even have the defect report?
 
 
Pete
Chromatix 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Nada Kapidzic Cicovic <nada@cost.se>
To: Dave Horvath <dave@chromatix.com>; Larry Layten <larry@ljl.com>
Cc: ietf-pkix@imc.org <ietf-pkix@imc.org>; 'kpcm' <kpcm@postoffice.xservices.com>
Date: Friday, August 14, 1998 3:31 AM
Subject: Re: ldapv2-schema and CA Certificates

>I am afraid the general solution is not that easy.
>
>Publishing certificates in one or another attribute seems to be less of a
>problem.
>
>Retrieval and searching for certificates in proper attributes seems to be a
>bigger problem. For example we are currently not even looking for
>certificates in cACertificate attribute, since we do not use self-signed
>certificates in our verification process. I suppose that Entrust based
>applications will have the same problem in path building process.
>
>Regards,
>
>Nada
>
>At 20:14 8/13/98 -0400, Dave Horvath wrote:
>>All,
>>
>>I don't think we are too far apart if we make the following assumptions
>>and support the conclusion listed below.
>>
>> 1) Entrust-enabled products currently use non-hierarchical
>> (bi-lateral) cross  certification. (Sharon is this correct?)
>> I also note that Entegrity implemented to the ldapv2-spec
>> so we will need concurrence from them.
>>
>> 2) Other communities such as DOD use a hierarchical
>> CA model at this time.
>>
>>
>>We propose we modify the X.509 defect report and ldap-v2 spec to place
>>all hierarchical CA certificates in the cACertificate attribute of that
>>particular CA's entry.  Self signed CA certificates shall also be placed
>>in the cACertificate attribute.
>>
>>The non-hierarchical (bi-lateral) CA's certificates shall be placed in
>>the crossCertificatePair attribute.   When DOD implements cross
>>certification, it will then start populating the crossCertificatePair
>>attribute.  When Entrust implements a hierarchical model, the
>>hierarchical CA's certificates shall be placed in the cACertificate
>>attribute.
>>
>>This approach allows all parties to do business the way they have been.
>>
>>
>>Regards,
>> Dave Horvath, Pete Peterson
>>
>>Larry Layten wrote:
>>>
>>> I am sorry that I brought up "political issues".
>>>
>>> Perhaps someone out there could summarize the pros and cons
>>> of each approach.
>>>
>>> Maybe someone could propose a way that a structure could
>>> be built that would incorporate both approaches, allowing for
>>> interoperability between the approaches based upon a mapping
>>> to the appropriate method and programming for both.
>>>
>>> Non-flamming responses only please! My mailbox is full :-)
>>> Larry
>>>
>>
>>--
>>               ================================================
>>
>>      _/_/_/                   David J. Horvath
>>   _/      _/                 
>>  _/       _/                  Chromatix, Inc.
>> _/           _/  _/           10451 Twin Rivers Road, Suite 265
>>_/            _/_/             Columbia, MD 21044
>> _/     _/   _/_/  Phone:  (301) 596-8466  |  http://www.chromatix.com
>>  _/_/_/   _/   _/ Fax:    (410) 997-4306  |  dave@chromatix.com
>>
>