Planning Considerations

This section provides information on the following:

• Where to Install the LDAP Driver
• Information to Gather
• Assumptions about the LDAP Data Source

Where to Install the LDAP Driver

A DirXML^® driver can be installed on the same computer where Novell^® eDirectory^TM and the DirXML engine are installed. This installation is referred to as a local configuration.

In a local configuration, you install the LDAP driver on the computer where eDirectory and the DirXML engine are installed, as shown in the following figure:

Figure 2
A Local Configuration

If platform or policy constraints make a local configuration difficult, a DirXML driver can be installed on the computer hosting the target application. This installation is referred to as a remote configuration.

Although it is possible to install the LDAP driver in a remote configuration, it provides little additional flexibility because this driver

• Can run on any eDirectory platform.
• Communicates with the LDAP server on any platform across the wire via the LDAP protocol.

Information to Gather

During installation and setup, you'll be prompted for the information such as the following.

• Whether to use the Flat or Mirror option for synchronizing hierarchical structure. See Policies .
• The eDirectory and LDAP directory containers that you want to hold synchronized objects.
• The eDirectory user object to assign as a security equivalent for the driver and the objects to exclude from synchronization.
• The LDAP object and password used to provide driver access to the LDAP directory.

See the table in Importing the Driver.

Assumptions about the LDAP Data Source

If you are using the Publisher channel to send data to eDirectory about changes in the LDAP directory, you must understand the two methods that the driver uses to publish data:

• The change-log method

  The change log is a mechanism in an LDAP directory. The change log can provide LDAP event information for the driver. This method is preferred when a change log is available.

• The LDAP-search method

  Because not all LDAP servers use change logs, this method enables the LDAP driver to publish data about the LDAP server to eDirectory.