Patent ID: 8381281
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for authenticating a host computer to a firewall, the computer implemented method comprising: sending, by a requesting host computer, a request message to a target host computer, wherein the request message requests one or more resources from the target host computer, and wherein the requesting host computer and target host computer are separated by a firewall that intercepts messages sent to the target host computer; responsive to receiving, at the requesting host computer, a response message from the firewall, determining from a content of the response message that an exception error has occurred, wherein the exception error indicates that the request message has been blocked by the firewall; locating an entry in a subnet lookup table that matches a network address of the target host computer; obtaining, from the entry, credentials associated with the target host computer; sending an authentication request message comprising the credentials to the target host computer, wherein the authentication request message is intercepted by the firewall; responsive to receiving, at the requesting host computer, an authentication response message from the firewall, determining from a content of the authentication response message that the credentials in the authentication request message has been authenticated by the firewall; and sending, by the requesting host computer, the request message to the target host computer, wherein the request message passes through the firewall to the target host computer, and wherein the request message establishes a connection between the requesting host computer and the target host computer.