SSSD is known in the OSS world as a client towards different LDAP-like databases. However, recently, we have started taking SSSD beyond its bread and butter LDAP client role to provide services that are usable in a broader context, as an application gateway or to a local machine. As a result, you might soon see SSSD enabled and running in your favourite distribution by default or quietly running on the background of another service.

In the talk I will demonstrate what enhancements we already did in SSSD, such as how to use SSSD as a gateway between an application and a user database or why should you let SSSD manage your Kerberos credential caches .

I'll also illustrate things we are working on for the future such how to add and access extra attributes of your local users or why it makes sense to let SSSD handle smart card logins even for local users.

The talk will be useful to system administrators, mainly those who deal with user account management, but also to developers who work on services that integrate with user databases.