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| Help users succeed in LDAP queries with Outlook |
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LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. LDAP enables users to query the directory on an LDAP server for information. For example, you might have an Exchange Server in your organization and want your users to be able to query for address information in the directory. The ability to query an LDAP server gives your users the capability to locate information such as physical addresses or other information that might not otherwise be available.
Outlook includes the ability to query directories through LDAP. However, the user’s profile must include an LDAP directory account to allow him to query the directory. You can easily add an LDAP account in either Outlook 2000 or Outlook 2002. In Outlook 2002, choose Tools, E-Mail Accounts, and choose Add A New Directory Or Address Book, then click Next. Select Internet Directory Service (LDAP) and click Next. Enter the LDAP server’s fully-qualified domain name or IP address, specify if the server requires you to log on, and click Next, Finish.
To query an LDAP server in Outlook, open the Address Book and select the LDAP directory service from the drop-down list. You can enter search criteria in the Type Name field.
If some of your users are having problems successfully querying the LDAP server, configuration on the LDAP server itself could be the problem. For example, you might need to configure security on the LDAP server to allow access. You should also check the settings for the LDAP service in Outlook. In particular, verify that you are using the correct port for the LDAP server. Queries against an Active Directory global catalog should generally use port 3268 instead of the default 389. If the LDAP server requires SSL, use port 636 for the Active Directory or port 3269 for SSL queries against the global catalog. Also check that the Search Base is set to the appropriate location in the directory. You configure all of these properties in the directory service account in Outlook.
Finally, if your users need more search options than those offered in Outlook, have them configure an Outlook Express directory service account and use Outlook Express for the LDAP query. Outlook Express provides additional search options not offered by Outlook. |
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