The report identified Zoomit's Via Server, which was recently upgraded as the leader but raised questions about its enterprise-class capabilities. The report also raised questions about the runner-up, Isocor, because of its small size. The Burton Group notes that Isocor's new offering, MetaConnect, is largely unproven. Following the release of the report, MetaConnect got a huge endorsement from Netscape, which will license its connector technology. Furthermore, the two companies plan to propose a specification that promises to standardize the development of connectors, which currently are proprietary.
Connectors link specific directories to metadirectories.
In coming months, more vendors will try to position their directory offerings as metadirectories. The most notable is Microsoft, which has begun touting its forthcoming Active Directory as a metadirectory. Active Directory, which will ship with Windows 2000, will support any Windows application or software developed via Microsoft's Component Object Model, via the programmatic Active Directory Services Interface. But analysts say neither Active Directory nor Novell's NDS should be regarded as a metadirectory. Active Directory will be an important part of everyone's life.