Understanding X.500 – The Directory by D. Chadwick is a free online book. This book describes, in lay terms, the contents of both the 1988 and 1993 editions of the ISO OSI Directory Standard (CCITT Recommendation X.500).
Book Description
If you are new to X.500, then I suggest that you read Chapters 1, 2, 4 and 10 first. If you know a little about X.500, then I suggest that you read through the chapter summaries below before taking your pick. If you are already familiar with the ’88 edition of the Standard, then you will be very interested in reading Chapters 6 and 8 which deal with the new ’93 features of replication (shadowing) and access controls. Chapter 2 is also important since it describes the new information models. The last half of Chapter 4 (shadowing and Operational Bindings), and Chapter 9 (distributed operations) will also be of interest to you, as will be the new schema features described in Chapter 3 and the new service features described in Chapter 5. If you need to be convinced that X.500 can provide a secure service in an open environment, then read Chapters 7 and 8.
Table of Contents
- Everyone needs Directories!
- The organisation of information in the Directory
- Controlling the information in the Directory – the schema
- Overview of the distributed Directory
- The Directory Service and associated protocols
- Replication of Directory information
- Checking out the users – the authentication framework
- Controlling access to the Directory information
- The distributed Directory in more detail