The Expanding Role of Directories

Today, most enterprises are at various stages of deploying centralized and consolidated LDAP-compliant directories. Some have had non-LDAP-compliant directories--for example, NDS or ISO X.500--and are now converting to the corresponding LDAP-enabled versions. This is either to accommodate LDAP-reliant Internet clients, such as those embedded in Web browsers, or to consolidate the increasing number of platforms and services that use directories.

The increased numbers of LDAP-enabled applications make availability and performance requirements for LDAP-compliant directories critical. Most environments need to update their deployments.

Enterprises should plan a robust and flexible deployment to accommodate:

• The increased volume of information in the directory

• The number of applications that rely on the directory

• Such load characteristics as concurrent access and throughput

As the directory becomes more central to the operation of the network and its services, deployment choices become critical.