Frequently Asked Questions about LDAP
- What is LDAP?
- Why do we use it?
- What did it replace?
- What does it add?
- What services use it?
- What do I have to do differently to use it?
- What are the long-term benefits?
What is LDAP?
LDAP means "Lightweight Directory Access Protocol." It provides an efficient way of storing information about people, groups, relationships, applications, computing resources, rules, and more.
Why do we use it?
It provides Cornell with a better means of accessing and maintaining data about many facets of the university. LDAP is organized in a way that means that literally millions of entries can be searched in seconds. It also helps do away with the data inconsistencies (between systems) that cause the "university system" to appear broken. LDAP has been adopted as the standard by the vast majority of the software industry, so many tools and utilities are available.
What did it replace?
At Cornell, LDAP replaced earlier systems such as QI.
What does it add?
LDAP is the way we access "the data of record." As more systems around campus use LDAP, the quality, consistency, and timeliness of updating our records will improve greatly. At the same time, the need to maintain data (such as home address or office phone number) in multiple systems will decrease greatly. We believe that many units and departments will find they no longer need to maintain their own databases, which means far less time will be spent keeping the information in synch, and the information will be in synch far more often.
What services use it?
LDAP is currently used as a way to access the electronic directory. It impacts data in applications all across campus, including NetID administration, WhoIAm, the Mann Library Gateway, ListProc (the electronic mailing list service), Bear Access, Finance, Sponsored Programs, and many more.
What do I have to do differently to use it?
Almost nothing. You will need to configure your e-mail client if you are using a client that was installed before Fall 2002. We have also compiled some search tips on how to use the LDAP directory.
What are the long-term benefits?
LDAP is providing us with the ability to store, maintain, and search many more types of information, including images (photos, maps, etc.) and audio (such as voice samples). Most importantly from an efficiency perspective, it means that information entered into one central system is synchronized with other systems, so that, for example, no matter how someone searches for a professor's office address, or an alum's preferred mailing address, he or she will get the same result, even if that information has been updated recently.