This object acts as a gate keeper for write access to the PML objects FILE-SYSTEM-EXTERNAL-ACCESS-CAPABILITIES, FILE-SYSTEM-ERASE-MODE, and FILE-SYSTEM-WIPE-DISK. The object can be viewed as always being in one of 4 states: State 0 FILE-SYSTEM-SECURITY-ACCESS-PASSWORD is the empty string and a pmlget operation on the object will return the string '0'. This will be the state after an NVRAM init which is the only way to set the object to the empty string. It cannot be set to the empty string through PML. In this state write access to FILE-SYSTEM-EXTERNAL-ACCESS-CAPABILITIES, FILE-SYSTEM-ERASE-MODE and FILE-SYSTEM-WIPE-DISK is disabled while write access to the object itself is enabled. A successful set operation on the object in this state will return the string 'SET' and will result in a transition to State 3. State 1 pmlget operation on the object will return the string '1' regardless of the actual stored password value. In this state write access to FILE-SYSTEM-EXTERNAL-ACCESS-CAPABILITIES, FILE-SYSTEM-ERASE-MODE and FILE-SYSTEM-WIPE-DISK is disabled. The only string the object itself can be successfully set to while in this state is the current value of the password. Setting the object to its current value causes a transition to State 2 which is an authenticated state. The value returned from such a set operation will be the string 'OK'. State 2 'gate' to write to the PML objects FILE-SYSTEM-EXTERNAL-ACCESS-CAPABILITIES, FILE-SYSTEM-ERASE-MODE, and FILE-SYSTEM-WIPE-DISK is open. One, and only one, write operation can be performed on one of these three objects. During such a write operation the object itself will transition to State 1 thus closing the gate. In State 2 a pmlset operation on the object will result in the password being set and a transfer to State 3. The value returned from a set operation in this state on FILE-SYSTEM-SECURITY-ACCESS-PASSWORD will be 'SET'. A pmlget operation on the object will return the string '2' regardless of the actual password value. State 3 operation on the object will return the string '3'. Otherwise behaviors in State 3 are exactly like in State 1.