Re: Meta Directory

[Michael Ströder <michael@stroeder.com>]

Tod Thomas wrote:
> Michael Ströder wrote:
>
>> Jehan PROCACCIA wrote:
>>
>>> Openldap with backend-meta !
>>
>> Isn't that more an LDAP proxy giving on-line access to various data
>> sources with name mangling capabilities? A thing some vendors call
>> 'Virtual Directory'?
>>
>> Whereas meta directories are typically used for syncing data off-line
>> from various sources.
>
> A "...successful metadirectory needs to be an information broker with a
> replication capability. It needs to run on a variety of platforms
> including NT, Unix, as well as the IBM S/390 mainframe. It needs to
> interoperate with other metadirectory solutions with support for LDAP,
> X.500, and Active Directory."*

Pretty much, isn't it?

Now the first question is: What do *you* wanna do with such a beast?

> It seems the definition of a metadirectory hasn't quite been pinned down

More or less a meta-directory is a programming framework with big libraries
for implementing the connectors.

> As I'm typing this I realize that given my above attempt at a definition
> LDAP becomes just another component within a group of data resources.

Yes!

> Please define 'off-line' for me, I want to be sure of what you're
> describing.

I have to admit that 'off-line' might be the wrong word. I meant that 
meta-directories, in opposite to 'virtual directories', do not handle a 
client request directly, gathering and massaging the results passed to the 
client. Meta-directories are for implementing synchronization processes 
working in the background, not upon end-user client's request.

BTW: We should switch over to ldap@umich.edu list with such a general topic...

Ciao, Michael.