PAM library
The PAM library,/usr/lib/libpam.a, contains the PAM API that serves as a common interface to all PAM applications and also controls module loading.
Modules are loaded by the PAM library based on the stacking behavior defined in the /etc/pam.conf file.
The following PAM API functions invoke the corresponding PAM SPI
provided by a PAM module. For example, the pam_authenticate API invokes the pam_sm_authenticate SPI in a
PAM module.
The PAM library also includes several framework APIs that enable
an application to invoke PAM modules and pass information to PAM modules.
The following table shows the PAM framework APIs that are implemented
in AIX® and their functions:
| PAM framework API | Function |
|---|---|
| pam_start | Establish a PAM session |
| pam_end | Terminate a PAM session |
| pam_get_data | Retrieve module-specific data |
| pam_set_data | Set module-specific data |
| pam_getenv | Retrieve the value of a defined PAM environment variable |
| pam_getenvlist | Retrieve a list of all of the defined PAM environment variables and their values |
| pam_putenv | Set a PAM environment variable |
| pam_get_item | Retrieve common PAM information |
| pam_set_item | Set common PAM information |
| pam_get_user | Retrieve user name |
| pam_strerror | Get PAM standard error message |