I agree it might be a good idea to spell out the relationship between
the two.  We can add a section to syslog-sign, or presumably add a
section to both that "mirror" each other.  Both have different uses, so
I am not sure how much effort should be spent beyond that - I am
concerned despite the best intentions, it might turn out to not be
really helpful in the end and merely slow things down.   

--- Alex

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 8:16 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [email protected]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Syslog] transport-tls vs. syslog-sign

"Rainer Gerhards" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on 05/16/2008
11:06:45
AM:


> 
> [Rainer]
> The differences I see is that between the two there are differences in
> what modes can be used. For example
> 
>                  -sign     -transport-tls
> x.509            yes        yes
> fingerprints     no         yes
> openPgP          yes        no
> (other)          yes        (N/A)
> 
> Also, -sign specifies how certificates are distributed (section 5.2,
5.3
> among others). -transport-tls does not talk about certificate
> distribution. In fact, -sign focuses very much on the distribution. 
> 

...
> 
> As I outlined in my mail yesterday, -tls cannot really authenticate
the
> originator. -sign can do that. -sign cannot provide confidentiality.
> -tls can do that. So a really secure system would need to utilize
both.
> Then, it would at least be useful to have the same set of drafts reuse
> some ideas. Even the relationship between those two is not spelled
> out...

I make this distinction on authentication.  -tls authenticates the
sender 
of the message.  -sign authenticates the contents and creator of the 
message.  Both have their uses, and they are independent concepts.  I
find 
in practice that for syslog style operation I am usually satisfied with 
-tls plus the knowledge that the sender has done whatever is appropriate

to ensure that message contents are appropriate.  But, there are other 
syslog situations where that is not a reasonable assumption, and -sign
is 
then needed.

R Horn
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