[Klug-general] password / security question / coding

[oly]

hi guys,

looking for ideas on securely storing and using passwords in an
application i am writting.
basically it is a server management system, it can configure services
like ldap fro example. the problem i have hit is with generating the
config and keeping the password securely so that the application can
also securely connect to the service.

I have outlined some of the methods i have thought of here
http://www.ubuntuservermanager.org/?q=node/143.

obviously storing in plain text is not ideal so looking for the most
secure solution so let me know, i am not a security expert myself so
looking for others opinions / ideas.