Understanding and Deploying LDAP Directory Services > 23. Case Study: Netscape Communications Corporation > Leveraging the Directory Service |
Leveraging the Directory ServiceWhen an organization has successfully deployed a directory, it becomes possible to leverage it to support new directory-enabled applications. One such example of this is Netscape's Maps application. Netscape's Mountain View campus has many meeting rooms. Like many companies in Silicon Valley, Netscape names these conference rooms after cartoon characters , movie names , famous people, and so on. Although this naming convention is fun and part of the culture, it can make it difficult to figure out where you need to be for your next meeting unless you happen to know, for example, that the Miles Davis conference room is on the ground floor of Building 12. Similarly, employees ' office numbers don't give any indication of the location of the office within the building. Some way was needed to help employees to determine the physical location of offices and conference rooms. To address this need, the Maps application was designed. It is a Web-based, directory-enabled application that allows a person's name or conference room name to be looked up in the directory. If a match is found, a graphical map is displayed in the browser window, and the location of the cubicle or meeting room is highlighted. The location (in x,y coordinates relative to the upper-left corner of the map image) is stored in an attribute of the entry. After the map is drawn in the browser window, a small cross hair cursor moves across the screen to highlight the location. The map application is very popular, and it is used hundreds of times each day. Directory Deployment ImpactIn what ways have things changed for the better now that Netscape has deployed a directory service? The following are a few of the ways that the directory has improved life for Netscape employees:
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Index terms contained in this sectionapplicationsleveraging support Netscape case study 2nd 3rd 4th 5th benefits directory deployment Netscape case study 2nd 3rd case studies Netscape Communications Corporation leveraging 2nd 3rd 4th 5th directories case studies Netscape Communications Corporation 2nd 3rd 4th 5th leveraging Netscape Communications Corp. case study 2nd improvements for employees 2nd 3rd Netscape Communications Corporation case study leveraging 2nd 3rd 4th 5th |
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