Directory vendors can't announce support for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) fast enough, but delivering it is sometimes a different story. Here's where some of the major players stand.
Netscape Communication Corp.'s Netscape Directory Server and Netscape Navigator were written to a prestandard version of LDAP 3.0. Netscape will be able to bring these products into compliance with the standard fairly easily.
Novell, Inc. has an LDAP 2.0 server interface that supports read/write access to Novell Directory Services. An LDAP 3.0 implementation is in the works, scheduled for release in the second half of the year. Also, Novell's GroupWise 5.2 has LDAP 2.0 read-only access to the GroupWise address book. Novell has committed to support LDAP on its GroupWise clients.
Banyan Systems, Inc. last fall began offering an add-in module that provides LDAP 2.0 read-only access to StreetTalk for Windows NT and VINES. An upgrade module is due this spring to provide LDAP 3.0 support with read/write capabilities.
Sun Microsystems, Inc. last fall began shipping its Sun Directory Services, which supports LDAP 2.0 read/write capabilities. An LDAP 3.0-compliant version is due by mid-1998.
Microsoft Corp. has committed to using LDAP as a core protocol for accessing Active Directory, and its newer applications are beginning to support the protocol. For example, while Outlook 97 lacks any LDAP capability, Outlook Express supports LDAP 2.0 read/write operations, and Outlook 98 will support LDAP 3.0
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Petrosky is a senior analyst at The Burton Group, an information services firm that provides in-depth technology analysis. She can be reached at (415) 572-0560 or petrosky@ tbg.com.
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