Proximity card for Novell networks

It never fails that when I mention something new (or new to me) an avalanche occurs. A few weeks ago I suggested that a combined smart card-proximity card might be a good idea. I then heard about a company that is developing something similar (Ensure Technology's XyLoc) although it is not directory-enabled. Nevertheless, I wrote about the product last week, which, in turn, launched more e-mail about other products.

I'm not complaining, mind you. Sometimes it's the only way I can find out about a product or technology that's either already on the market or coming really soon.

In this case, I heard from Gabriel Waters, Novell's product manager for " Access and Security Solutions. " Waters wanted to know why I hadn't asked him about proximity cards, the network and the directory. Unfortunately, the players change at Novell so frequently that the last position I had for him involved implementing Novell's public-key infrastructure strategy - only tangential to the directory, for most of us. But he did tell me about an upcoming product.

RF IDeas (www.pcprox.com) makes the pcProx line of products and is working with Novell to provide proximity services for Novell Modular Authentication Services. The product is in beta right now, but should be shipping before the end of this quarter. You would need to add a proximity reader to each PC you want to enable (approx. $30 to $50 depending on quantity), but most proximity cards would be supported.

If, like me, you're not familiar with how proximity cards work then you should point your browser to www.pcprox.com/Support/ProxTech/proxtech.html for a good beginners' tutorial on both active and passive technology. There's also a quick look at the nascent use of sonar as a way of securing PC access, do check it out.

RF IDeas has been in the security, identity and proximity services business since 1995 - it knows what its doing. It's refreshing to see the company adapting to new directory-enabled methods without a lot of turf-protecting noise. Too bad Ensure Technologies doesn't understand that.

One reader did remind me that, " the proximity features for access to your system looks nice but is useless for other important use of the smart card. That is the digital signature. "

That's true, of course, but the proximity feature doesn't negate the use of a smart card for digital signature, just requires a different type of reader. Some users will need smart cards, some will need proximity cards and some will need both (eventually, most people will need both). But a proximity reader with a slot in which the card can be inserted whenever a signature is needed shouldn't be all that hard to design. Maybe there already is one - if so, I'll hear about it this week.

Keep those e-cards and e-letters rolling in, boys and girls!

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. His most recent book is "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks" published by SAMS. Dave's company, Virtual Quill, provides content services to network vendors: books, manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing, technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill provides "words to sell by..." Find out more at Virtual Quill or by e-mail at info@vquill.com

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