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LDAP address book? RRS feed

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    I've been trying to get my head around a shared contact database. There are so many ways to go, but you always run into compatability problems. So, I am thinking that LDAP could be a good solution. But, I'm more of a programmer than a systems administrator. So, my knowledge is limited in that area.

     

    Can anyone comment on the suitability of using LDAP for shared contacts? Is there a better solution? Is there a free LDAP server for Windows? Also, how about the complexity of setting up a simple LDAP server, and even trying to run it as an add-in?

    Wednesday, November 28, 2007 7:19 PM

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    Outlook will connect to an LDAP directory if you add the LDAP Provider as an Address Book provider.  Outlook Express and Windows Mail will also connect to LDAP directories.  You can use System.DirectoryServices to programatically access LDAP directories from managed code.  As for authentication it depends on how you configure ADAM.  Anonymous access can be enabed http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/fcc32b37-d44c-4021-8cd8-8e6459cf30191033.mspx.  LDAP servers listen on Port 389 by default though I think ADAM can be configured for a different port if you wish.

     

    Friday, November 30, 2007 11:15 PM

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    OK, I am replying to my own post. But, there's a reason. I just read another post (http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1801663&SiteID=50) discussing ADAM. So, I looked it up, and this seems perfect. Plus, MS has a doc on how to bundle ADAM with your application. So, I think that it couldn't be too hard to wrap it up into an MSI with a simple console tab. But, again, I don't really know and haven't written an add-in yet.

    Two issues I can see:

    Which clients/platforms can connect to ADAM -- Outlook, Evolution, WAB, Vista Contacts, asp.net webapp, custom MCE add-in Wink

    Must users authenticate to access ADAM? If so, how? If not, is ADAM wide open when WHS remote access is enabled?

    Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:01 PM
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    Outlook will connect to an LDAP directory if you add the LDAP Provider as an Address Book provider.  Outlook Express and Windows Mail will also connect to LDAP directories.  You can use System.DirectoryServices to programatically access LDAP directories from managed code.  As for authentication it depends on how you configure ADAM.  Anonymous access can be enabed http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/fcc32b37-d44c-4021-8cd8-8e6459cf30191033.mspx.  LDAP servers listen on Port 389 by default though I think ADAM can be configured for a different port if you wish.

     

    Friday, November 30, 2007 11:15 PM
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    Excellent. So, the client machines will work, and I can program a front-end for MCE, and a web frontend on the WHS.

     

    But, I'm still unclear about getting ADAM running on WHS. WHS required you create an msi for a WHS add-in. It looks like you can download the components. Then, you can do an unattended installation, specifying an answer file. This might work. If all that can be wrapped into an MSI, we could be in business.

     

    The next hurdle will be to figure out if ADAM can be managed programatically. We know it can be accessed programmatically, but if I have to create a WHS console program, it should be able to do some basic administration tasks, too.

    Saturday, December 1, 2007 12:00 AM
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    Missle, This could solve allot of problems for those of us that need to work in a mixed OS environment and want to consolidate our info.  How's it coming?

     

     

     

    Saturday, February 2, 2008 2:32 AM
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    Just wanted to bump this thread and see if there is any update.  I am very interested in this project as well.  Specifically the WHS Console add-in.  Thanks!!!
    Thursday, July 31, 2008 5:14 PM
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    I have not looked into this any more since we got our Blackberry phones. Since those can sync with the desktop and thereby each other, it takes off some of the pressure. But, if we could ever get a WHS contact manager, sync with a phone would be a great feature.

    I saw that there's a beta Outlook add-in (http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2008/07/29/whs-outlook/). But, you have to install outlook on the server, which seems a little odd to me.

    Another option, far less desirable, would be to do something with the new xml contact files that vista uses. WHS could maintain a folder of XML contacts. Then, tell Windows Mail on each Vista client to look in that folder for contacts. Also, write an add-in     that looks and those cards and serves them up via WHS console. Similary with a web page. Similary with MCML.

    I still like the idea of the contact manager using a standard API such as LDAP. Really, hard hard could it be to create or implement a lightweight LDAP server? Then, that would just be an additional front-end.

    I guess the first step would be to write a trivial flat-file based address manager implemented as a console add-in, loosely coupled to allow the storage mechanism to evolve to XML or BDB, and allow multiple front-ends.
    Tuesday, August 5, 2008 2:28 PM