IBM System/34 - System Security

System Security

There are three types of System/34 security: the badge reader that almost nobody ever bought, so it isn't discussed here; password security; and resource security.

Password security was used to begin a session at a computer terminal. Unless security was inactive, a correct password must be entered to begin.

The System/34 sign on looked like this:

• SIGN ON W1
• USER ID......... ________
• PASSWORD........ ____
• MENU (OPTIONAL). ______
• LIBRARY......... ________

The PROF ("Profile") procedure was used to work with User IDs and passwords. The user profile contains a 1-to-8 character alphanumeric User ID, a 4 character alphanumeric password, a code for the user's security rating—M (Master Security Officer), S (Security Officer), O (System Operator), C (Subconsole Operator), or D (Display Station Operator) -- and a number of other default settings.

The PRSRCID ("Profile Resource Security By User ID") procedure was used to establish security ratings for file and library objects. Access levels of O (Owner), G (Change), R (Read), E (Execute) or N (None) could be granted for a user to a particular resource.

The printed disk catalog (VTOC, Volume Table of Contents) displayed all secured objects with the notation 3 as being secured.