DCE (Distributed Computing Environment) is a comprehensive, integrated set of services that supports the development, use and maintenance of distributed applications.
DCE is a type of "middleware," meaning software which floats above the operating system level but underneath commonly used services such as email, news, and web service. DCE provides much more than just a repository for storing user names and passwords: DCE negotiates between the operating system and high-demand services to provide security with finely partitioned levels of authentication; distributed file service; time service; and overall, a degree of unity between computers of different architectures that is difficult to achieve otherwise. In other words, DCE will provide us with the infrastructure which will assist us in realizing our goals of providing the University community with Web-based, secure, and reliable tools.
DCE's fundamental distributed services include:UCS is currently running 4 cells, as follows:
The second cell is called ucscell.u.washington.edu. Queen is the primary CDS, security server, time server, fldb server, and fileset server for the cell and King is the secondary.
The following is a list of items that should be completed in the next month or two.
University Computing Services is in the process of creating a University wide DCE cell. The cell will be a single cell (named washington.edu) containing information on all users within the University.
A test DCE cell is in use on the Becker galaxy. The directory server, time server, and security server is running on Becker1. The accounting system on Becker1 and Becker2 have been modified to use and undate the information in the DCE cell database. Authenticated login has not yet been enabled for either host.