Controlling access to a network server using an authentication ticket

This invention relates to network access systems. More particularly, the invention relates to the control of access to a network by a user through an authentication server that generates an authentication ticket indicating whether the user has been authenticated. A system determines whether to grant a user access to a network server. Prior to granting access to the network server, the network server authenticates the user by sending an authentication request to an authentication server. The authentication server determines whether the user was already authenticated by the authentication server. If the user is authenticated by the authentication server, then the network server is notified that the user is authenticated through the use of an authentication ticket, and the network server grants the network server user access. If the user is not authenticated by the authentication server, then login information is retrieved from the user and compared to authentication information maintained by the authentication server. If the retrieved login information matches the authentication information, then the network server is notified that the user is authenticated by using the authentication ticket.