OpenID
Definition
OpenID is probably the most popular light-weight digital identity system that will allow single sign-on (SSO) for Internet applications. It is the answer to "can't remember my login and password" for all those web sites, for which you never should use the same id + password...
“OpenID is a shared identity service, which allows Internet users to log on to many different web sites using a single digital identity, eliminating the need for a different user name and password for each site. OpenID is a decentralized, free and open standard that lets users control the amount of personal information they provide.”(OpenID (Wikipedia, retrieved 19:27, 21 August 2008 (UTC))
The system
An OpenID is in the form of a URL. This URL can be the domain name of your own website, or the URL of an OpenID Identity Provider. When you log in with an OpenID, you have to log in to the Identity Provider for validation.
Using OpenID-enabled sites, web users do not need to remember traditional items of identity such as username and password. Instead, they only need to be registered with any OpenID "identity provider" (IdP). Since OpenID is decentralized, any website can use OpenID as a way for users to sign in; OpenID does not require a centralized authority to confirm a user's digital identity.
(OpenID (Wikipedia, retrieved 19:27, 21 August 2008 (UTC))How to get an OpenID
Bascially you either get an account with some web sites and services that already provide OpenIDs, e.g. Blogger, Yahoo or Flicker or there exist providers that just provide the ID.
Makeing your own for your organization or students is another option:
- phpMyID can help you make just your own. Some php knowledge is required.
- Also read OpenID for non-SuperUsers that will show you how to use and id that will point to your owned favorite web site (e.g. a blog).
- If you have an LDAP server, you can use this technology, e.g. by using OpenID-LDAP. That's the kind of solution Daniel K. Schneider thinks is best for many academic institutions.
- Finally, there exist a bunch of open source libraries for developers.
In education
Since all sorts of web 2.0 and social software applications are increasingly popular in education (see the list of web 2.0 applications), students have a real problem managing their logins on the Internet.
It therefore is good a idea to support single sign-on when ever possible. OpenID seems to be currently (2008) the best solution. OpenID directories list an ever increasing amount of OpenID enabled web sites:
Also, some applications already implicitly provide users with an OpenID, e.g. Blogger, Yahoo or Flicker.
Note: OpenID is not meant to be used for local logins, but you may combine local single-sign on with LDAP and OpenID for Internet logins.