Until now, it has been difficult to find the right source of information on LDAP and directory server implementations: books on the subject are overly product-specific, and a search on the Web results in information overload. The ABCs of LDAP: How to Install, Run, and Administer LDAP Services strikes the right balance, providing a synopsis of LDAP fundamentals without getting wrapped up in one particular implementation.

This book is for network and systems administrators who want to begin using LDAP more extensively. It delivers the theoretical background needed to understand how these servers work, resulting in clear, concise examples of implementations in both commercial and OpenLDAP environments.

The text is structured so that each chapter can stand on its own, with brief descriptions of terms supplemented by references to more detailed explanations in other chapters. You also benefit from a concise overview of how to design a directory, preparing you to execute directory deployments for email, PKI, DNS, NIS servers, and many other productivity-enhancing applications.

Topics include major LDAP APIs, such as PHP, Perl, and Java, as well as distributed command line tools. The book covers ways to integrate LDAP into existing systems, and provides hands-on examples within working implementations.THE LDAP PROTOCOL
Directories and Directory Server
Network Protocols
The TCP/IP Protocol Stack
The OSI Protocol Stack
Internet Standards: RFCs
DAP: X.500 Standard
Finally¿. LDAP
LDAP: How It Works
Under the Hood: The Database Holding Information
Conclusion

HELLO WORLD IN LDAP
The Example: An Enterprise with a Few Departments
Objects in LDAP: Object Classes, Attributes, and Schema
The Server Configuration
The First Steps with LDAP
Updating a Directory with a Batch Process
The LDIF Standard
Ldapsearch Revisited: Search Filter
LDAP: Wasn't It a Protocol?
Even Your Favorite Browser Speaks LDAP
Conclusion

LDAP MODELS
Introduction
The Information Model
The Naming Model
The Functional Model
The Security Model

LDAP: Some Practical Details

Distributed Architectures
Introduction on Replication & Partitioning
Data Distribution between LDAP and non-LDAP systems
Partitioning
What is partitioning?
Gluing the directories together
Referrals
Examples
And now¿ from the client point of view
Chaining
Security Aspects using chaining
Difference between Chaining and Referrals
Replication
Replication Scenarios
Schema Information and ACL
Single Master versus Multi Master
Replication Agreements
Load Sharing
Security Aspects
Work in Progress¿
Data Distribution between LDAP and non-LDAP systems
Meta Directory
DSML
DSML Tools
Castor
Conclusion

LDAP APIS
LDAP Command Line Tools
LDAP and PHP
Perl and LDAP
The C LDAP API
The Java LDAP API
What's missing

LDAP Directory Server Administration
Open Source Software
Getting the directory server up'n running
Software Installation
OpenLDAP Installation
SUN ONE Installation
Securing Your LDAP Server
Setting up security in SUN ONE
Setting up security in OpenLDAP
LDAP Server Configuration
Load the data
Log files
Start/Stop of the server
Backup and Recovery
Service Level Agreement
Backup Methods
System Monitoring
User Administration
LDAP Users, Groups and¿UNIX

LDAP AND WEB SERVICES
Introduction
LDAP URLs
Accessing an LDAP Server via CGI Scripts
Accessing an LDAP Server via an Application Server
Gateways
Web Server Authentication
Example: The auth_ldap Module for Apache
LDAP Authentication Using CGI Scripts
LDAP Authentication Using the PHP Preprocessor
LDAP and the WEB: A Case Study
Conclusion

THE DESIGN OF DIRECTORY SERVICES
Introduction
The Directory Life Cycle
Planning of Directory Services
The Goal of the Project
The Benefits of the Project
The Objectives of the Project
The Target of the Project
The Analysis of the Actual Situation
The Steps to Perform
The Project Plan
Design of Directory Services
Data Design
Schema Design
Tree Design
Choosing a Root for the Directory Information Tree
Branching the Directory Tree
Partitioning
Replication