Lightweight Directory Access Protocol or LDAP is a TCP/IP-based Internet protocol used by email programs and a few other applications to search and fetch information from a directory stored on a server. A directory is a data repository storing identical chunks of information in a hierarchical and logical sequence.
For instance, a telephone directory that has various subscriber names indexed alphabetically with associated telephone numbers and addresses is an example of a directory. This kind of a structure can easily be implemented using LDAP. However, this protocol is not limited to accessing just contact information about people. It can locate shared resources on a network like printers and scanners, and allow people to use the resources and other shared services using a single password.
LDAP can be successfully implemented where identical forms of sequentially stored information need to be accessed quickly and where updates are done very rarely. Email clients frequently use LDAP to access directory information from a server. Since LDAP does not support encryption, processes like updating and modifying information on the server from the client needs to be done using a secure SSL connection.
LDAP can also use DNS or Domain Name System to structure the top-level of its hierarchy. This enables the system to have a wide scope at the top end of the hierarchy, but at the same time funnel down to a single specific entity at the lower end of the hierarchy. For instance, the top level may represent countries, states or other large geographical boundaries, whereas the bottom end might point to a single document on a computer, a shared resource on a network or a particular individual’s information. This makes the protocol very versatile in dealing with a large variety of applications.
The University of Michigan developed the LDAP protocol and its current version is LDAPv3.
Update for 2024
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an open, vendor-neutral application protocol used for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services over an Internet Protocol (IP) network 1. Let’s dive into the details:
Purpose and Functionality
- LDAP allows applications to rapidly query user information stored in directories.
- It enables tasks like email lookups, printer connections, and authentication without direct IT involvement.
- Companies use LDAP to manage static data such as usernames, passwords, email addresses, and printer connections.
- Additionally, LDAP can handle authentication, allowing users to sign in once and access various files on the server.
How LDAP Works
- An average employee interacts with LDAP frequently, often without realizing it.
- The steps involved in an LDAP query are intricate:
- Session connection: The user connects to the server via an LDAP port.
- Request: The user submits a query (e.g., an email lookup) to the server.
- Response: The LDAP protocol queries the directory, retrieves the information, and delivers it to the user.
- Completion: The user disconnects from the LDAP port.
- Behind the scenes, developers handle various aspects, such as search size limits, processing time, and included variables.
LDAP Characteristics
- Descriptive Data: LDAP directories store descriptive information (e.g., names and locations) that defines assets.
- Static: The data doesn’t change frequently, and when it does, the shifts are subtle.
- Valuable: The stored data is critical for core business functions and is accessed repeatedly.
- LDAP is vendor-neutral, compatible with different directory programs.
LDAP vs. Active Directory
- Active Directory is a Microsoft-specific implementation of LDAP.
- While LDAP is a protocol, Active Directory is a full-fledged directory service.
- Active Directory extends LDAP with additional features and integrates tightly with Windows environments.
Legacy Yet Relevant
- Despite its age (the definitive whitepaper was published in 2003), LDAP remains widely used.
- Employees interact with LDAP daily, whether connecting to printers or verifying passwords.
- Remember, LDAP is the behind-the-scenes magic that makes everyday tasks smoother, even if we don’t always notice it!