Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a fast growing technology for accessing common directory information. LDAP has been embraced and implemented in most network-oriented middleware. As an open, vendor-neutral standard, LDAP provides an extendable architecture for centralized storage and management of information that needs to be available for today’s distributed systems and services.

After a fast start, it can be assumed that LDAP has become the de facto access method for directory information, much the same as the Domain Name System (DNS) is used for IP address look-up on almost any system on an intranet and on the Internet. LDAP is currently supported in most network operating systems, groupware and even shrink-wrapped network applications.

This book was written for those readers who need to understand the basic principles and concepts of LDAP. Some background knowledge about heterogeneous, distributed systems is assumed and highly beneficial when reading this book. This book is not meant to be an LDAP implementation guide, nor does it contain product-related or vendor-specific information other than as used in examples.

This redbook was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization, Austin Center.

Steven Tuttle is a Project Leader for the International Technical Support Organization (ITSO), Austin Center. He has 13 years of experience in the IT industry. He has worked at IBM® for 10 years, with five years of experience with IBM security products. He holds a degree in Computer Science from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York, with concentrations in Mathematics and Psychology. His areas of expertise include the IBM Tivoli® Enterprise™ products and the IBM Tivoli Security products. Before joining the ITSO, he worked for IBM Tivoli Services in the Security Practice as an enterprise security solution designer using IBM Tivoli software products.

Ami Ehlenberger has been with IBM for the past five years. Her career has included working in OS/390® development, z/OS® Integration Test, and the zSeries® Custom Technology Center. Her technical concentration is Internet security, designing solutions that focus on WebSphere®, LDAP, and Tivoli security products. Ami has a BS in Computer Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in e-Business from the University of Phoenix. Ami currently manages the IBM Server and Technology Group's zSeries Services Team. The team specializes in Web enablement and solution design, concentrating on the zSeries platform.

Ramakrishna Gorthi is a developer for the IBM Tivoli Directory Server, Pune Center in India. He has worked at IBM for two and a half years, with one year of Level 2 Customer Support for the various versions of the IBM Tivoli Directory Server. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering from Pune Institute of Computer Technology, Pune (India). His areas of expertise include the IBM Tivoli Directory Server from the Tivoli Security Products. Apart from the immense experience gained as a Customer Support Representative, he has also earned a good reputation in the different phases of the product life cycle for the IBM Tivoli Directory Server, like development and testing.

Jay Leiserson is a Solution Architect for Tivoli Security products. He has twenty-five years of experience in systems analysis, solution design, and software development. He has worked at IBM for 24 years and has an extensive and varied background that includes directory design and integration, identity management solution design, Internet security, and application and operating system development for distributed systems. He holds a degree in Economics from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Richard Macbeth is an IBM Directory Services Architect for Tivoli Services, Americas Security Practice. He has been with IBM for 25 years in the computer/IT field with 12 years of experience in the LDAP Directory field. He has current certifications with Novell as a Certified Directory Engineer, Certified Novell Instructor, Certified Novell Engineer, and Sun One Directory 5 Engineer. He has worked on a number of versions of SecureWay®/IBM Directory Server on most platforms. He also has four years of experience with Tivoli Access Manager and one year of experience with IBM Directory Integrator. He also held a CCNP Certification with Cisco and had over 10 years of experience as a Senior Network IT Specialist.

Nathan Owen is a Identity Management Architect within IBM Software Group. Nathan has worked in the Identity Management space for over eight years with a particular focus on directory service related technologies such as X.500/LDAP directories, Meta-directories, and Virtual Directories. He took a three year pause from IBM in 1999 and co-founded virtual directory vendor Octet String Inc., before returning to IBM late in 2002. He holds Political Science degree from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. His areas of expertise include IBM Tivoli Directory Server (ITDS), IBM Tivoli Directory Integrator (ITDI), as well as the other the products in the Tivoli Identity Management portfolio.

Sunil Ranahandola is a Software Engineer for the IBM Global Services (IGSI), India Center. He started his career with IBM in March 2001 and has been working with IBM since then. He has almost three years of experience in the IT industry. He holds a degree in Computer Science from University College of Engineering, Burla, Orissa, India. His areas of expertise include the IBM Tivoli Directory Services.

Michael Storrs is an IT Specialist for the Tivoli Security Group. He has seven years of experience in the IT industry, and has worked with enterprise access and identity management products for the last five years. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia. His areas of expertise include the Tivoli Security Products, IBM Tivoli Directory Integrator, directory servers, and application development.

Chunhui Yang is a Metadata Architect and Directory Consultant in IBM Software Group, RTP. She has direct experience with the full project lifecycle of information systems for Microsoft®, Dow Jones, Reuters, and IBM, and is recognized as a chief contributor with National awards to many projects in areas of system architecture design, development and deployment on Directory solutions and n-tier Web-based application solutions.

Thanks to the following people for their contributions to this project:

Tony Bhe, Tamikia Barrow, Linda Robinson, Margaret Ticknor
International Technical Support Organization, Austin Center

Julie Czubik
International Technical Support Organization, Poughkeepsie Center

Chris Ehrsam
IBM Directory Solutions Architect

John McGarvey
IBM Directory Solutions Architect/Security Integration

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