Technical Standards

Directory Services

Directory Services identify all the resources on a network and make them accessible to users and applications. Directory Services typically catalogue organisations or people. Data stored by such services include email addresses, unique identifiers (such as Web addresses or ISBN numbers), or listings of domain names servers, computers, databases, printers, modems, scanners, and mail folders. Directory Services also handle security processes such as authentication and authorisation.

If possible, the directory service should make transparent the physical network topology and protocols, the set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data electronically between devices. A user on a network can then access any resource without knowing where or how it is physically connected.

LDAP, NDS and X.500 ITU

There are a number of directory services that are used widely. Two of the most important ones are LDAP, (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) which is used primarily for e-mail addresses, and Netware Directory Service (NDS), which is used on Novell Netware networks. Most directory services are based on the X.500 ITU standard.

 

4 items in this category.

  1. Directories and X.500: An Introduction
    Category: Directory Services

    This site gives an introduction to directory services and X.5000 including Client/Server Architecture and a comparison of X.500 and LDAP.

  1. eduPerson Object Class
    Category: Directory Services

    The EDUCAUSE/Internet2 eduPerson task force has the mission of defining an LDAP object class that includes widely-used person attributes in higher education. The group will draw on the work of educational standards bodies in selecting definitions of these directory attributes.

  1. OASIS: advancing open standards for the information society
    Category: Directory Services

    Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) is a not-for-profit, global consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards. Members themselves set the OASIS technical agenda, using a lightweight, open process expressly designed to promote industry consensus and unite disparate efforts. OASIS produces worldwide standards for security, Web services, XML conformance, business transactions, electronic publishing, topic maps and interoperability within and between marketplaces.

  1. OpenLDAP
    Category: Directory Services

    The OpenLDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) Project is a collaborative effort to develop a robust, commercial-grade, fully featured, and open source LDAP suite of applications and development tools. The project is managed by a worldwide community of volunteers that use the Internet to communicate, plan, and develop the OpenLDAP Suite and its related documentation.



Please Note

Some of the information accessible through this page is dated. It will be progressively reviewed, and where appropriate, revised.