Putting it all together in a hypothetical UPenn Cell 1. Cells are independent of the number and types of machines and networks. Remote Procedure Calls Remote Procedure Calls RPCs are system calls for DCE inter-process communications that are used extensively by all DCE services 3. Threads Threads Lightweight sub-processes that allow programmers to divide a process into parallel, independent processes that execute independently. In other words, clients and servers can talk and listen with multiple mouths and ears all at the same time, or carry on multiple independent conversations.
Principals can belong to multiple groups simultaneously, and usually do.
Security Registry the cell's database of DCE principals, groups, organizations, and accounts. While we will probably want to deploy unified DCE and Unix system logins eventually, it may make sense for us to test and pilot services with the two logins separated. DCE vendors will the two to be combined, which would require system administrators to synchronize Unix and DCE users, groups and accounts. DCE administrators will still require multiple identities. Since everything is a principal, everything can authenticate itself, and the authentication service provides for mutual authentication.