Mac OS X requires user authentication prior to accessing the system. Although the loginwindow process manages the user authentication process, it does not itself authenticate the user. The loginwindow process passes the information specified in the login window to Open Directory for authentication. When Open Directory authenticates the user, loginwindow initiates the user session and displays the status bar, along with the text "Logging In." NOTE If you select the "Automatically log in as" option in the Login Options pane of Accounts preferences, the loginwindow process does not prompt you for login information. When a user logs in to the system, the loginwindow process sets up the user environment and records information about the login. It also configures the mouse, keyboard, and system sound using the user's preferences, and retrieves the user record from Open Directory. |