Re: Allowing usernames in pg_hba.conf

> This is definitely stressing pg_hba past its design limits --- heck, the
> name of the file isn't even appropriate anymore, if usernames are part
> of the match criteria.  Rather than contorting things to maintain a
> pretense of backwards compatibility, it's time to abandon the current
> file format, change the name, and start over.  (I believe there are
> traces in the code of this having been done before.)  We could probably
> arrange to read and convert the existing pg_hba format if we don't see
> a new-style authentication config file out there.
> 
> My first thoughts are (a) add a column outright for matching username;
> (b) for both database and username columns, allow a filename reference
> so that a bunch of names can be stored separately from the master
> authentication file.  I don't much care for sticking large lists of
> names into the auth file itself.

OK, I have an idea.  I was never happy with the AUTH_ARGUMENT column. 
What I propose is adding an optional auth_type=val capability to the
file, so an AUTH_ARGUMENT column isn't needed.  If a username column
starts with @, it is a file name containing user names.  The same can be
done with the database column.  Seems very backward compatible..  If you
don't use auth_argument, it is totally compatible.  If you do, you need
to use the new format auth_type=val:

TYPE     DATABASE    IP_ADDRESS    MASK               AUTH_TYPE  USERNAMES
local      all                                          trust     fred
host       all         127.0.0.1     255.255.255.255    trust     @staff
host       all         127.0.0.1     255.255.255.255    ident=sales jimmy

I have thought about a redesign of the file, but I can't come up with
something that is as powerful, and cleaner.  Do others have ideas?

As far as missing features, I can't think of other things people have
asked for in pg_hba.conf except usernames.

--  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://candle.pha.pa.us pgman@candle.pha.pa.us               |  (610)
853-3000+  If your life is a hard drive,     |  830 Blythe Avenue +  Christ can be your backup.        |  Drexel Hill,
Pennsylvania19026