ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to introduce the basic concepts of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). A future version of LDAP will likely include transaction management. The chapter provides a more technical understanding of LDAP, which involves a discussion of protocols. Using the LDAP protocol, clients ask a server to perform certain actions. LDAP offers centralized information services across a whole network. Because LDAP is running over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP), all computers using the TCP/IP protocol can access the services offered by LDAP. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion about the differences between a relational database management system and a directory accessed via the LDAP protocol. A deeper understanding of LDAP requires some concept of network protocols. The LDAP was developed as an alternative to the heavyweight Directory Access Protocol. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
