Push/Pull Agents for Directory Synchronization
Push/pull agents are common tools for synchronizing information between directories. In this case, a single agent manually pulls information from one directory service and massages the data to make it acceptable for upload to another directory server. Several directory vendors provide synchronization agents of this type in the form of connectors and drivers. A connector transfers data from one directory to another (see Figure 9-8) using a common format, often XML-based, while a driver translates the connector’s data format to something understood by the local directory.
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A partial list of commercial connector/driver offerings includes:
SunOne’s XMLDAP (http://wwws.sun.com/software/products/directory_srvr/)
Novell’s DirXML (http://www.novell.com/products/edirectory/dirxml/)
The advantage that most commercial connector/driver solutions enjoy over in-house solutions is an inherent knowledge of when data changes in the directory. This means that the directory can trigger the connector upon any relevant change; in most cases, an external agent can detect a change only by polling the directory.
Despite this disadvantage, home-grown tools that act as middlemen between directory services can be very useful. The next chapter focuses on how to ...
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