Setting a Security Equivalence

When you assign a security equivalence to a user, that user acquires the same rights as another user or group. If the rights assignment changes for one user, it also changes for all security-equivalent users. By default, a user is security-equivalent to the group EVERYONE and to any other group of which he or she is a member.

You can make a user security-equivalent to Supervisor. This action enables the user to log in under his or her name with Supervisor privileges. Of course, you should be particularly cautious about making any user Supervisor-equivalent.

HINT:  If you want to enable the NetWare 4.0 Admin user the rights to administer servers in the NetWare Tools application, you can assign Supervisor equivalence to the Admin login.

NOTE:  To set a security equivalence, you must have Supervisor status.

Follow these steps:

  1. Choose the Set Security Equivalences option.

    The utility window looks like this:


    The utility window contains these lists:

    • The Browser

      When a server name appears in its pop-up menu, the Browser contains a list of users; from this list, you choose the user for whom you want to assign a security equivalence. For simplicity, think of this user as the original user.

    • The Users and Groups list

      This list appears in the center of the window. The Users and Groups list can display either the users or the groups registered on the server chosen in the Browser area. Click the Users radio button to display user names; click the Groups radio button to display group names.

      From the Users and Groups list, you choose the user or group to which you want to make the original user security-equivalent. For simplicity, think of this user or group as the target user or the target group.

    • The Security Equivalences list

      When you highlight a user name in the Browser, the list labeled Security Equivalences contains the name of each target user or group to which the original user is security-equivalent.

  2. Locate the server containing the users and groups you want to work with.

    The server's name must appear in the pop-up menu above the Browser. For example, if you want to assign a security equivalence on the server MAIN, make sure that MAIN appears in the pop-up menu.

  3. In the Browser, highlight the original user.

    Highlight the user for whom you want to set a security equivalence. For example, to make the user DOUG security-equivalent to another user, highlight DOUG.

  4. In the Users and Groups list, highlight a target user or group.

    To make the original user security-equivalent to another user, click the Users radio button in the Users and Groups list. The list displays all the users registered on the server. Highlight the target user. For example, to make DOUG security-equivalent to JENNIFER, highlight JENNIFER.

    To make the original user security-equivalent to a group, click the Groups radio button in the Users and Groups list. The list displays all the groups registered on the server. Highlight the target group. For example, to make DOUG security-equivalent to the group SALES, highlight SALES.

  5. Click the right-arrow button.

    When you click the right-arrow button, the original user becomes security-equivalent to the target user or group. The name of the target user or group is grayed out in the Users and Groups list and appears in the Security Equivalences list.

    For example, if you make DOUG security-equivalent to JENNIFER, the user name JENNIFER appears in the Security Equivalences list. The utility window now looks like this: