*/

    public synchronized static void setDefault ( NtlmAuthenticator a ) {
        if ( auth != null ) {
            return;
        }
        auth = a;
    }


    /**
     * 
     * @return the default authentiucation credentials
     */
    public static NtlmAuthenticator getDefault () {
        return auth;
    }


    protected final String getRequestingURL () {
        return this.url;
    }

    public static NtlmPasswordAuthentication
                requestNtlmPasswordAuthentication( String url, SmbAuthException sae ) {
        if( auth == null ) {
            return null;
        }
        synchronized( auth ) {
            auth.url = url;
            auth.sae = sae;
            return auth.getNtlmPasswordAuthentication();
        }
    }
/**