Understanding Directory Services

Book DescriptionUnderstanding Directory Services clarifies the complex topic of directory services, starting with basic theory and archetypes, and then working its way up to the current directory service implementations. It describes the basic idea behind directory services, explaining the underlying conceptual models, design characteristics, and methods of managing distributed information.The book begins with an overview of directory services and their core characteristics, highlighting critical aspects of directory information, distribution, and storage. The evolving nature of the information the directory contains, and the factors involved in organizing and managing it are discussed in detail, and then methods of information distribution and storage are examined at length.After exploring the basics of directory service, the book progresses to in-depth chapters on each of the critical technologies being used to implement directory services:* The X.500 standards are explained to help you understand the foundations of directory services and provide a basis for comparison of the other directory technologies.* Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and its emerging role as a directory access standard is described in detail, with thorough explanations of models, naming, and operations.*The Domain Name System (DNS) is examined from a directory service perspective, noting parallels in structures and operations.This knowledge of directory services is then used to describe the design of X.500 and LDAP based directory service products, as well as NDS eDirectory and Active Directory, highlighting the architectural and operational implications of vendor's design decisions. This book:* Explores X.500-based directory products (eTrust, DirX, Nexor), and highlights implementation approaches and capabilities.* Describes the LDAP-based directory products (OpenLDAP, SecureWay, iPlanet), identifying similarities and differences between them.* Explains NDS eDirectory describing the underlying directory architecture and its foundations in X.500, and its evolution from an NOS-based directory to a general purpose directory service.* Examines how Active Directory integrates NT 4, LDAP, and DNS technologies into a directory service that leverages established Windows networks.* Explores the information management issues that meta-directories (Siemens DirXmetahub, iPlanet meta-directory, Microsoft Meta-directory Services, Novell DirXML) are designed to address, and characteristics of different types of meta-directory solutions (as well as Radiant Logic's Radiant One virtual directory server).* Identifies the design of XML-based directory markup languages that map directory schema, objects, and operations providing directory interoperability.The final chapter is focused on helping you evaluate directory services in the context of your business and network environment. Information, business, and network control factors are identified, and key factors in directory service assessment are explained.Understanding Directory Services is an excellent reference for directory service technologies that includes extensive references and a glossary containing 385 directory service terms. By explaining key directory technologies, and the integration of those technologies, this book provides the information you need to understand the design and operations involved in all directory services.From the Back CoverUnderstanding Directory Services is the most in-depth resource available on directory services theory, architecture, and design. It provides the conceptual framework and critical technical information for IT professionals who are using directory services in their networks or e-business solutioSheresh, Beth is the author of 'Understanding Directory Services', published 2001 under ISBN 9780672323058 and ISBN 0672323052.