Had to give a talk today for an hour not to students, or even to staff, but to computing staff who work with students in the IT suites.

The topic was the new authentication system that is in use for accessing databases (and more). Unfortunately, the new one was supposed to replace the old one but due to politics both are now running in tandem and causing some problems. Not helped by the old one itself supposedly 'replacing' the previous system and actually running in tandem with that. What with those three methods, plus databases that require individual logins (yes, still, in 2008), plus the variations between on and off campus access. Plus the possibility of using a webcache to make your off campus PC appear to be on campus......

Well, you can see that the situation is anything but clear. And you can see why the staff requested the session. You may also be imagine how fun it was trying to explain all this to computing types who actually know about the 'back end stuff' which I'm pretty ignorant about.

I just want to drive from A to B. I do NOT want to stop at point C somewhere along the way and look under the hood.

Oh, and if someone could bang the heads of those responsible for the politics of the authentication schemes.... please do.