Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 22, 2026

Factotum (software)

Factotum is a password management and authentication protocol negotiation virtual file system for Plan 9 from Bell Labs. When a program wants to authenticate to a service, it requests a key from Factotum. If Factotum does not have the key, it requests it from the users either via the terminal window or auth/fgui which is then stored in volatile memory. Factotum then authenticates to the service on behalf of the program. For long-term storage, keys are usually stored in secstore or in an encrypted file.

Last revised
Jul 22, 2026
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auth/fgui adding a key to factotum source ↗
Factotum
DeveloperBell Labs
Written inC
Operating systemPlan 9 from Bell Labs
PlatformPlan 9

Factotum is a password management and authentication protocol negotiation virtual file system for Plan 9 from Bell Labs. When a program wants to authenticate to a service, it requests a key from Factotum. If Factotum does not have the key, it requests it from the users either via the terminal window or auth/fgui which is then stored in volatile memory. Factotum then authenticates to the service on behalf of the program. For long-term storage, keys are usually stored in secstore or in an encrypted file.12

Factotum was introduced in August 2002, at that year's USENIX in Berkeley, California.34

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Edwards, John (2004). Telecosmos: The Next Great Telecom Revolution. Wiley. pp. 167–171. ISBN 9780471690689 – via Google Books.
  2. Fisher, Dennis (August 12, 2002). "Bell Labs Takes Stab at True Single Sign-On". eWeek. Ziff-Davis – via Gale.
  3. Costello, Sam (August 8, 2002). "Bell Labs shows off new password, sign-on tools". InfoWorld. IDG Communications – via Gale.
  4. Rapoza, Jim (August 12, 2002). "Factotum Bridges Access Gaps". eWeek. Ziff-Davis – via Gale.
External links