KB05081902 How to set up LDAP

 

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is an open-standard protocol for accessing X.500 directory services.  The following article describes how to use Mailtraq's LDAP implementation in a step-by-step non-technical manner. 

 

LDAP is an Internet protocol used by email clients (Outlook Express, Outlook, Netscape Mail, Pine, Eudora, MUTT, etc ) to access user directory information. 

 

LDAP is analogous to a phone directory for users on the mail server. 

 

Note: the example below details steps on installing LDAP with the simplest of options and descriptions. 

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Installing the LDAP service :-

1. From the Mailtraq Console open the menu Options | Services... and choose to Add a new service
   
2. From the list of services select Lightweight Directory Access Protocol ( LDAP)
   
3. A dialog specifying technical specifics concerning the LDAP service is presented ( all of these options can be changed in the future ).  In general, most users can just click Ok and have the LDAP service running.  Problems that may present itself; if another service is listening on port 389, if access restrictions need to be enforced, if the directory information is not the user database, etc.  For more detailed explanations of controls and solutions to problems click here
   
4. When asked Would you like to start service LDAP - Directory Server now? click on Yes.  If not, the service can be started at any time from the Console menu Tools | Start Service

Configuring user information :-

1. The basic installation outlined above will retrieve Mailtraq user information from the server ( as opposed only members of a mailing list ).  The user information to be displayed must be configured for each user on the server.  Ideally when the administrator creates each user account the user information is entered and the proper permissions set. 
   
2. To configure user information open the User Properties dialog ( right click on a users account from the console and select Properties OR open the menu Options | Users... | Properties ).
   
3. From the Directory tab in the User Properties dialog select the fields and the values of the fields to be displayed
   
4. Once all of the fields desired have been entered the permission to display the directory for the user must be set.  By default, Mailtraq sets the local directory permission to Private.  To learn more about local directory permissions see Mailbox Properties.  In general, the permission must be set to Protected ( only LAN users can view  the information ) or Public ( any user can view the user information )

 

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Using LDAP

An Outlook Express example

It is important to remember that LDAP is a searchable directory.

In order to locate an address you must configure Outlook Express to use Mailtraq as the 'Directory Service'.

Setup

In Outlook Express, go to Tools | Accounts, Directory Service tab
and click [Add], to add a new Directory Service.

Set the name of the Directory Service Account to: Mailtraq

Set the Server name, to be the local IP address of the Mailtraq machine.

Mailtraq requires that you log in, so check the box, and supply a valid username and password for the Mailtraq server. This is normally the same as the email account username and password.

 

Finding an address

In order to locate an address it is necessary to run a search.

For example, in Outlook Express, at 'Tools | Accounts' add the Mailtraq LDAP service as a Directory Service 'Account', as described in Setup, above.

Next, open 'Addresses', then select 'Find People'. 

At the 'Find People' dialog, select the Mailtraq LDAP service in the 'Look in:' drop down list.

Select the 'Advanced' tab, and enter the search criteria:
'Name' + 'contains' + '*'
Add this to the search, then click the [Find Now] button.

The tool will then return a list of all entries in the LDAP directory.