Understanding and Deploying LDAP Directory Services > 1. Directory Services Overview |
Chapter 1. Directory Services OverviewThe fact that you have picked up this book and started to read it suggests that you have some idea what a directory service is and what it can do for you. This chapter assumes you have an everyday understanding of directories and expands on that notion to answer three simple but important questions:
This chapter aims to answer each of these questions in detail, formalizing the answers to give you a common understanding of the task before you: designing a directory service. You'll learn why directories are important, the scope of a directory solution, and what they can do for you. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be ready to read the rest of the book, which deals with the details of understanding, designing, deploying, maintaining, and finally making use of your very own directory service. Directory Service Defined We will use many terms throughout this book that may be new to you. A directory service is the collection of software, hardware, processes, policies, and administrative procedures involved in making the information in your directory available to the users of your directory. Your directory service includes at least the following components :
As you can see, it's quite a list! Some of these components are depicted in Figure 1.1. Generally, we will use the term directory as a synonym for directory service . It's important to keep in mind that your directory is a sophisticated system of components that work together to provide a service. Concentrating exclusively on one set of components without thinking about the others is sure to lead to trouble. Figure 1.1. Figure 1.1 Directory system components.
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Index terms contained in this sectiondirectories 2ndsystem components directory service 2nd services directory 2nd systems directories components |
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