Understanding PeopleSoft Directory Interface

PeopleSoft Directory Interface uses Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory services to authenticate users of PeopleSoft applications.

PeopleSoft Directory Interface provides additional mappings and integration points, such as messages, that enable PeopleSoft data and LDAP data to stay synchronized. Most directory data, such as user ID, name, and email address, is also maintained in your PeopleSoft database. When you use PeopleSoft Directory Interface, you make selected PeopleSoft data available to the directory, and you maintain the data in the PeopleSoft database.

When information changes in the PeopleSoft database, PeopleSoft Directory Interface captures that updated information and automatically updates the equivalent information in the directory server, or it writes the updates to a file for you to apply at another time.

Understanding Data Mapping

PeopleSoft information is stored in tables according to a relational model. The information in your LDAP directory is stored in trees according to a hierarchical model. You use PeopleSoft Directory Interface to map selected PeopleSoft data to corresponding data in the directory service. When PeopleSoft Directory Interface receives user data from the PeopleSoft database, it can map the data objects to the corresponding objects in the directory.

For PeopleSoft Directory Interface to map PeopleSoft information to your directory, it needs information about the directory hierarchical structure, or directory information tree.

Entries are made up of a distinguished name (DN) and attribute and value pairs. The distinguished name identifies an entry’s position in the tree, and the attributes hold the data that make up the entry.

Available attributes for an object class entry are specified in the directory schema. You must load the schema into the Directory Interface before you can map PeopleSoft data to the directory.

PeopleSoft Directory Interface mapping tables map LDAP attributes to PeopleSoft messages. Each message contains selected information about a PeopleSoft record and its fields.

Note: Refer to PeopleSoft application documentation for information about specific messages delivered by PeopleSoft applications.

Understanding Data Synchronization

After you have loaded PeopleSoft data into your LDAP directory, you can synchronize the data. To do this, use one of the following options:

PeopleSoft Business Interlinks.

PeopleSoft Business Interlinks updates the data in real time, so that your directory information is always synchronized with PeopleSoft data.
LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) files.

You can load LDIF files as needed or defined by your system.

Note: The application server needs to be configured for receiving messages.

Delivered Business Interlinks

Oracle delivers the following business interlinks with PeopleSoft Directory Interface:

EO_DS_ADD

Adds a new entry to the directory by creating a distinguished name and its corresponding attributes.

EO_DS_BIND

Authenticates the information exchanged between the database and the directory.

EO_DS_DEL

Deletes an entry from the directory.

EO_DS_MODDN

Renames a directory entry. Changes its distinguished name by renaming the actual entry or changing its position in the directory entry.

EO_DS_MODIFY

Changes the attributes of an entry.

EO_DS_SEARCH

Searches for directory entries and their corresponding attributes.

Refer to Enterprise PeopleTools 8.46 PeopleBook: PeopleSoft Business Interlinks for more information on business interlinks.