Deploying OpenLDAP

For all the work and time invested in using LDAP, not enough time has been spent designing the layout and the logic of directories. End users and system architects often do not give appropriate attention to the deployment of LDAP as a standards-based system with interfacing ability. Thus, many of LDAPs best features—especially OpenLDAP—become unusable.

As a remedy, Deploying OpenLDAP delves into the logic, theories and fundamentals of directories. The text focuses on open standards, rather than proprietary systems, which are expensive and incompatible with other systems. If you already know advanced programming implementation, but don't fully understand how all pieces fit together, then this book will go beyond explaining “what is,” and instead show you “how to.”

Table of Contents

1. Assessing Your Environment
2. Understanding Data Definitions
3. Implementing Deployment, Operations, and Administration Strategies
4. Installing OpenLDAP
5. Implementing OpenLDAP
6. Scripting and Programming LDAP
7. Integrating at the System Level
8. Integrating OpenLDAP with Applications, User Systems, and Client Tools

For all the work and time invested in using LDAP, not enough time has been spent designing the layout and the logic of directories. End users and system architects often don't give appropriate attention to the deployment of LDAP as a standards-based system with interfacing ability. Thus, many of LDAP's best features-especially OpenLDAP-become unusable.

As a remedy, Deploying OpenLDAP delves into the logic, theories and fundamentals of directories. The text focuses on open standards, rather than proprietary systems-which are expensive and incompatible with other systems. If you already know advanced programming implementation, but don't fully understand how all pieces fit together , then this book will surpass explaining, "what is," and instead show you, "how to."

Tom Jackiewicz is currently responsible for global LDAP and e-mail architecture at a Fortune 100 company. Over the past 12 years, he has worked on the e-mail and LDAP capabilities of the Palm VII, helped architect many large-scale ISPs servicing millions of active e-mail users, and audited security for a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Jackiewicz has held management, engineering, and consulting positions at Applied Materials, Motorola, and Winstar GoodNet. Jackiewicz has also published articles on network security and monitoring, IT infrastructure, Solaris, Linux, DNS, LDAP, and LDAP security. He lives in San Francisco's Mission neighborhood, where he relies on public transportation plus a bicycle to transport himself to the office&emdash;fashionably late.