Directory Services Evolution

Overview

This lecture covers the evolution of directory services, open network standards, key protocols, popular implementations, and tools for managing and using directory servers.

Directory Services and Open Standards

• Directory services enable interoperability between different software vendors using open network standards.
• In 1988, the X.500 Directory standard was approved to define directory services and related protocols.

X.500 Directory Protocols

• Directory Access Protocol (DAP) allows clients to access the X.500 directory.
• Directory System Protocol (DSP), Directory Information Shadowing Protocol (DISP), and Directory Operational Bindings Management Protocol (DOP) are included in X.500.
• Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a simplified alternative to DAP and the most widely used.

Directory Service Implementations

• Directory service standards led to multiple implementations by vendors such as Apache, Oracle, IBM, and Red Hat.
• Microsoft's implementation is Active Directory (AD), which includes custom features for the Windows platform.
• OpenLDAP is a popular open-source LDAP directory service supporting Windows, Unix, Linux, and their derivatives.

Directory Server Management Tools

• Microsoft provides Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) tool for managing Active Directory.
• Other open tools allow administration of various directory server implementations.
• Client applications on major OS platforms can integrate with directory servers for login and authentication.

Centralized User Management

• Integrating systems with directory servers enables centralized user account management.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Directory Service — Software that stores, organizes, and provides access to information in a directory.
• X.500 — An international standard defining directory services and related protocols.
• DAP (Directory Access Protocol) — Protocol for accessing X.500 directory services.
• DSP, DISP, DOP — Additional X.500 protocols for communication, information replication, and operational bindings.
• LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) — Simplified protocol for accessing and managing directory services.
• Active Directory (AD) — Microsoft’s implementation of directory services.
• OpenLDAP — Open-source LDAP directory service.
• ADUC (Active Directory Users and Computers) — Management tool for Active Directory.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review details of Microsoft Active Directory and OpenLDAP in upcoming modules.