Configuring an LDAP Server

The Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) enables users to access contact information over a network. Users can share the same contact information. A typical application of LDAP is a single address book for all employees in a company, that all employees can access.

To configure an LDAP server, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Tools -> Settings. An Evolution Settings dialog is displayed.

2. Click on Directory Servers in the left pane. A table for LDAP servers is displayed in the right pane.

3. Click Add. An LDAP Configuration Assistant is displayed. The LDAP Configuration Assistant guides you through the configuration process for an LDAP server. Click on the Forward button to begin the configuration process. A Server Information page is displayed.

4. Enter general server information in the Server Information page. The following table describes the elements on the Server Information page:

   Dialog Element	Description
   Server name	Enter a DNS name or an IP address for the LDAP server where the contact information is located.
   Log in method	Select a method to use to log in. Select one of the following options:  Anonymously: Select this option if you do not want to authenticate your identity when you log in. Using email address: Select this option if you want to use your email address to log in to the LDAP server. Your email address must be added to the LDAP server before you can use the email address to log in to the server. Using distinguished name (DN): Select this option if you want to use your distinguished name to log in to the LDAP server. A distinguished name uniquely identifies a user in an LDAP directory. Your distinguished name must be added to the LDAP server before you can use the distinguished name to log in to the server.
   Email Address, or Distinguished name	Enter the email address or the distinguished name with which you want to log in to the LDAP server.

   When you complete the general server information, click on the Forward button. A Connecting to Server page is displayed.

5. Enter server connection information in the Connecting to Server page. The following table describes the elements on the Connecting to Server page:

   Dialog Element	Description
   Port number	Enter the port number for Evolution to use to connect to the LDAP server in the field. A typical value for this field is 389.
   Use SSL/TLS	Select when to use the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol or the Transport Layer Security (TLS) to connect to the LDAP server. Select one of the following options: Always: Select this option to always use SSL or TLS to connect to the LDAP server. Whenever Possible: Select this option to use SSL or TSL to connect to the LDAP server only if you are not in a secure environment. Never: Select this option to never use SSL or TLS to connect to the LDAP server.

   When you complete the server connection information, click on the Forward button. A Searching the Directory page is displayed.

6. Enter search details for the directory on the server in the Searching the Directory page. The following table describes the elements on the Searching the Directory page:

   Dialog Element	Description
   Search base	The information in an LDAP server is organized as a tree structure. A search base is a particular location in the tree structure that is the starting point for an LDAP directory search. A base entry is the name of a search base. Type the base entry to use for your LDAP directory searches in the text box.
   Show Supported Bases	Click on this button to display a list of search bases that are supported by Evolution.
   Search scope	Select the scope for your directory searches. Select one of the following options:  One: Select this option to search the search base and one level below the search base. Sub: Select this option to search the search base and all levels below the search base.
   Timeout (minutes)	Use the slider to specify the amount of time to wait before Evolution stops the search.
   Download limit	Specify the maximum number of contacts that you want to download from the LDAP server.

   When you complete the search information, click on the Forward button. A Display Name page is displayed.

7. Type a name for the server in the Display name text box. This name is displayed in your Evolution interface.

   When you complete the display name, click on the Forward button. A Finished page is displayed.

8. Click on the Apply button to create the LDAP server and close the LDAP Configuration Assistant.