SALS

SASL is the Simple Authentication and Security Layer.
A method for adding authentication support to connection-based protocols.
To use SASL, a protocol includes a command for identifying and authenticating
a user to a server and for optionally negotiating protection of subsequent
protocol interactions. If its use is negotiated, a security layer is inserted
between the protocol and the connection.


--
Reference:
SASL
http://asg.web.cmu.edu/sasl/index.html

RFC 2222
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2222.txt