Active Directory, LDAP

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a protocol that implements Microsoft directory service (Active Directory) for Windows operating systems. The main purpose of Active Directory is to store user information in a centralized database. LDAP provides access to the database and authenticates local network user to access network resources.

Active Directory consists of objects, which are divided into three categories:

» People – includes user groups and their accounts.
» Services – may include e-mail.
» Resources – various equipment (scanner, printer, etc.).

The main purpose of Active Directory is to control and manage these objects, as well as to provide their data to external systems. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol includes a number of directory operations. To access them, you need to be connected to the corresponding network. Directory connection is performed by user authentication.

The next step in working with the Directory is using Search. This operation involves several parameters: the search base – that is where the data search begins, search depth – the area of the search, and the search filter – the selection of the Directory objects from the search area. Changing data is possible with the help of Modification operation. It includes adding, copying, moving and deleting accounts.

The Benefits of Using Active Directory/LDAP in Video Conferencing

The participants may be “scattered” around different places (different cities, countries and even continents) during a video conference. The number of users may vary from a few to several hundreds. Active Directory/LDAP makes the work of the administrator who provides services to the corporate directory users much easier.

Connecting to the LDAP server helps the administrator to avoid re-establishing of records and it saves his time. Users, in their turn, get rid of the re-authorization session. Active Directory/LDAP allows the use of the existing authorization mechanism on a video conferencing terminal, without the need to re-enter login and password when starting a session. If LDAP is used in a local network, a user will be able to connect and authenticate to any computer in the corporate network.