What is .DIR?
- Makes directories accessible in and through the Internet
- Directories organize information for both humans and system components
- Directories support authentication and authorization and ensure privacy of data
- 8+ years of proven technology in global enterprise organizations
- Provide network identity
- People: scott.engineering.novell.com.dir
- Resources: files, peripherals, network devices
- Consider the implications for wireless (Bluetooth, WAP) peripherals (numbers, security, configuration)
- Supports the bridge of DNS and LDAP (RFC 2255)
- Simple Scenario: Secure relationship management
- Share files with steve.standford.edu.dir
- Create a new login for Steve (How many IDs does he have?)
- Copy the data to some shared location (stale, synchronization)
- Grant rights in novell.com.dir to steve.standford.edu.dir (federation)
- Technically can be done without .DIR, but lacks interoperability and synergy of opportunity
Open Technology: LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)
- LDAP is an open standard, defined and ratified within the IETF
- The IETF has a suite of RFCs that define LDAP. LDAP is not a Novell specific product or technology.
- LDAP is an already proven technology. There is already a huge market (millions), both demand for and deployment of, LDAP clients and LDAP servers
- The Open Group's Directory Interoperability Forum (DIF) to define compliance criteria
Solutions
- End Users
- Maintain their identity(s) in a well known location
- Application Developers
- Can rely on standardized interfaces
- Value Chain Integrators
- Facilitate new B2B integration
- eMerchants
- Provide secure information sharing
- Directory-Enabled Networking
- Support global management
Unique service opportunity
- ICANN has specifically asked for unique, creative ideas
- Sponsor agrees with the evaluation report:
- "Technically feasible"
- "Novel idea"