Re: A philosophical question about large directory structures

So, now, more opinions about directory services:

Graham Klyne wrote:
> - the Internet model of linking together free-standing networks that use
> common protocols would seem to be applicable to directories.  The resulting
> directory would, I think, be not so much a single unified global directory
> but a less organized network of directories that can work together to
> provide something approaching a global information infrastructure.


A prototype of just such a thing exists.  It was developed for
the Swedish TISDAG project.  See http://tisdag.sunet.se for
all the project information.  There is running code (2 versions!)
and the technical spec is/will be published as an Internet-Draft
before Friday.  Additionally, there will be at least one document
about experiences in working with such a federated service, and
another providing suggestions for potential future directions
to support this kind of gateway service.

Roughly-speaking, the TISDAG service can be seen as one mechanism
for providing integration of servers operated by different organizations
into a single application/service for client software.  In the
TISDAG implementation, the primary purpose is to provide an index
over participating directory servers (with redirection to those
servers for retrieving end-results).   For client protocols not
capable of handling referrals, chaining proxies are provided within
the service, so that the end results are delivered to the user.

Well, see the draft(s) for more info!

Leslie.


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"What are the potential gains, and               Leslie Daigle
   why do they weigh so much??!"                 [email protected]
            -- David Holmes

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