Plug-ins can use the LDAP API directly. For information on writing LDAP APIs, see Accessing LDAP information with the LDAP API . This book assumes you have an existing X.500 directory service available, for example the IBM eNetwork X.500 directory. X.500 overview X.500 is a directory service with components that provide more efficient retrieval. The X.500 directory structure differs from others in the way the information is stored and retrieved.
Information is associated with attributes.
A query based on attributes is generated and sent to the LDAP server, and the server returns the respective values. LDAP uses a simple, string-based approach for representing directory entries. An X.500 directory consists of entries , which are typed depending on the ObjectClass attribute. Each entry is composed of attributes . Entries, which are arranged in a tree structure, may be divided among servers in geographical and organizational distribution.