directory service

1 definition found

directory service - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  directory service
  
     <database, networking> A structured repository of information
     on people and resources within an organisation, facilitating
     management and communication.
  
     On a LAN or WAN the directory service identifies all
     aspects of the network including users, software, hardware,
     and the various rights and policies assigned to each.  As a
     result applications can access information without knowing
     where a particular resource is physically located, and users
     interact oblivious to the network topology and protocols.
  
     To allow heterogeneous networks to share directory
     information the ITU proposed a common structure called
     X.500.  However, its complexity and lack of seamless
     Internet support led to the development of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
      (LDAP) which has continued to
     evolve under the aegis of the IETF.  Despite its name LDAP
     is too closely linked to X.500 to be "lightweight".
  
     LDAP was adopted by several companies such as Netscape Communications Corporation
      (Netscape Directory Server) and
     has become a de facto standard for directory services.
     Other LDAP compatible offerings include Novell, Inc.'s
     Novell Directory Services (NDS) and Microsoft Corporation
     's Active Directory.  The Netscape and Novell
     products are available for Windows NT and Unix
     platforms.  Novell Directory Services also run on Novell
     platforms. Microsoft Corporation's Active Directory is an
     integral part of Microsoft's Windows 2000 and although it
     can interface with directory services running on other systems
     it is not available for other platforms.
  
     (2001-01-02)