!!! Overview
[{$pagename}] ([GSSAPI] or [GSS-API]) is an application programming interface for programs to access security services.

The GSSAPI is an [IETF] standard that addresses the problem of many similar but incompatible security services in use today.

The GSSAPI [SASL] [Mechanisms|Authentication Methods] provides a way for clients to [authentication] including using a [Kerberos] V5 session.

The [{$pagename}] is described in the following RFCs:
* [RFC 2078] [Generic Security Service Application Program Interface], Version 2
* [RFC 2743] The [Generic Security Service Application Program Interface] Version 2, Update 1.
* [RFC 2744] The [Generic Security Service Application Program Interface] Version 2 : C-bindings
* [RFC 1964] [The Kerberos Version 5 GSS-API Mechanism]
* [RFC 4121] [The Kerberos Version 5 Generic Security Service Application Program Interface (GSS-API) Mechanism|The Kerberos Version 5 GSS-API Mechanism]: Version 2
* [RFC 4178] [The Simple and Protected GSS-API Negotiation Mechanism|Simple and Protected GSSAPI Negotiation Mechanism] ([SPNEGO])
* [RFC 2025] [The Simple Public-Key GSS-API Mechanism] ([SPKM])
* [RFC 2847] - [LIPKEY] - [A Low Infrastructure Public Key Mechanism Using SPKM]

[RFC 4752], and a description of the exchange between the client and the server (as well as with the [Kerberos] [KDC]).

!! Relationship to [Kerberos][1]
The dominant [GSSAPI] mechanism implementation in use is [Kerberos]. 

Unlike the [GSSAPI], the [Kerberos] [API] has not been standardized and various existing implementations may use incompatible APIs. 
The GSSAPI allows [Kerberos] implementations to be [API] compatible.

!! [Microsoft Active Directory]
[Microsoft Active Directory] supports [{$pagename}] through the [Security Support Provider Interface] which uses several [Security Support Providers]

!! [EDirectory]
[Configuring GSSAPI With Edirectory|Configuring GSSAPI With Edirectory]

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
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* [#1] - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_Security_Services_Application_Program_Interface|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generic_Security_Services_Application_Program_Interface|target='_blank'] - based on 2013-04-10