Novell lifts lid on latest eDirectory

The directory will be central to the management of web services, according to Novell.

Following the release of version 8.7 of its directory product in June this year, Novell will add Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI services to the directory, which it says will address the problem of managing web services in corporate environments.

"This is going to be the platform for our web services technology", Ed Andersen, director of net directory services told vnunet.com. He said the directory will be a hub for managing web services.

In addition, Novell revealed that eDirectory 8.7 will include web-based and wireless directory administration, role-based administration, and expanded developer tools.

It will include additions to existing XML support in eDirectory, and web-based management via the Simple Object Access Protocol (Soap) standard.

A new management tool called iManager allows management of the directory and user, access rights and network resources within it from a web browser or handheld device. Novell said such remote management capabilities will help cut costs.

Role-based administration gives non-technical staff limited access to the directory. For example, office administration staff could be given access to the directory to change data such as telephone numbers but have their access limited.

"That's something you could never let someone do before. But if they do something that breaks, it is very contained," eDirectory product manager Ivan Hurtt told vnunet.com.