eDirectory

eDirectory is a cross‑platform directory service that provides centralized identity management and resource discovery for enterprise networks. It originated as Novell Directory Services (NDS) for NetWare and was later rebranded to eDirectory to reflect broader platform support. In the current product line, eDirectory is maintained by Micro Focus after a series of corporate acquisitions.

The directory stores objects such as users, groups, devices, and policies in a hierarchical namespace. Data is organized into partitions and contexts, with each server hosting replicas of one or more partitions. This multi‑master replication enables fault tolerance and proximity‑based access across geographically distributed sites. The schema defines object types and attributes, and it can be extended to accommodate custom requirements.

eDirectory supports LDAP v3 as its core protocol and is designed to interoperate with other directory services and applications. It can integrate with Kerberos‑based authentication and supports standard security practices such as access control lists, auditing, and provisioned accounts. It runs on multiple operating systems, including Linux and Windows, and is marketed as part of the Open Enterprise Server family in various deployments.

Typical use cases include centralized user provisioning, single sign‑on to applications and network resources, policy enforcement, and cross‑platform identity management in mixed environments. Organizations often deploy eDirectory to maintain a consistent directory view across heterogeneous platforms and to enable scalable authentication and authorization frameworks.

See also: LDAP, X.500, Novell Directory Services, Open Enterprise Server.