Added to which, the iPlanet directory features support for a very wide range of host platforms. Computer Associates also markets an X.500 directory solution, again LDAP compatible, which can use a variety of industry standard SQL databases as its data store. Known as eTrust Directory, the CA product can be hosted on Windows NT and UNIX servers and is in widespread use supporting, among others, a number of large scale digital TV networks with millions of online users. In the past each of these vendors would have offered its directory as a total solution, hoping to conquer the world with its view of what directories are all about. One result is a greater emphasis on standards, such as LDAP, which allows clients and their applications to access directory information regardless of the service hosting them.
Agreement is still some way off, however.
In the meantime, a number of so-called metadirectories have also been developed. These are a kind of super-directory that can be used to link together directories from other vendors. Such metadirectories are available from companies like Critical Path, iPlanet and Oblix. In actual fact it bought specialist developer Zoomit and re-named it Zoomit Via Metadirectory. In so doing, Microsoft can legitimately address many of the concerns over platform support levelled at Active Directory.