Microsoft has detailed plans to make Active Directory more interoperable with devices running operating systems other than Windows.

The plans, unveiled at this year's TechEd in Amsterdam, centre on new tools developed after the company struck a deal with the EU requiring it to open up its software.

Redmond has also made a commitment to work more closely with partners to develop the architecture for more interoperable web services. 

"Microsoft has made a long-term commitment to making interoperability even easier for customers," said Kim Saunders, director of interoperability programmes at the software giant.

"By building on our current interoperability technologies in Active Directory, and partnering with key ISVs, Microsoft is providing the technologies, technical information and support that will make it even easier for customers to use Active Directory with their non-Windows systems and applications, and for ISVs to build products that work well with Active Directory."

The tools include a password manager to help ISVs control disparate systems more effectively.

Microsoft turned to French developer Kernel Networks to provide a tool to link OpenLDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) and Microsoft Identity Integration Server 2003 that will be available royalty free at the end of the year.

The final announcement concerned the development of an open model for web services architectures that will be incorporated into Server 2003 release 2.

Open source integrators Centrify Corp and Vintela have pledged to work with Microsoft on the project.