What it is, How it works

A: AltaVista Directory is like your private white pages. From the comfort of your standard Web browser or e-mail application, you can find every person listed in the AltaVista Directory, including their name, phone numbers, addresses, job descriptions, even a picture.

Q: Why do I need one?

A: Your business depends on people reaching people ASAP. But we all know this is easier said than done.

For example:

• You know someone's name, but not the phone number?
• You have the phone number but you can't read the name?
• The e-mail address you wrote down doesn't work?
• You need to send a message to every one on a project team, but you don't know all of them? You want to put a face with a name?
• AltaVista Directory solves all these problems.

Q: How do we add people to the AltaVista Directory personnel database?

A: AltaVista Directories are out-of-the-box personnel directory applications. They are ready for use when you populate the directory with peoples' names, telephone numbers, etc. The fastest way to populate the AltaVista Directories database is to bulk load personnel information from other applications that have a directory component. Examples include: Microsoft Exchange, DNS and NDS directories. You can also use delimited text files, and any other file type you can write a script around.

The AltaVista Directories Software Developers Kit provides a Tcl-based bulk loading applet and an LDAP programming interface. The LDAP programming interface provides code examples and documentation along with header files.

Q: How do we keep the AltaVista Directory personnel database current?

A: Once you have populated the AltaVista Directories personnel database, you can easily keep it current. Following are some examples.

• Personnel administrators or department managers can add people and modify entries via the AltaVista Directory Manager component.
• Users can modify their own entries and add information.
• Administrators can run a search and replace operation across an entire database or within specific groups. This feature is very useful when department names are changed.
• The entire personnel database can be reloaded via a bulk loading operation.
• You can integrate your HR (Human Resources) application with AltaVista Directories. As information changes on the HR system, it is automatically updated on AltaVista Directories.
• These methods can be used in conjunction with one another in any combination.

Q: How many entries can the AltaVista Directory support?

A: AltaVista Directory supports hundreds of thousands of entries.

Q: Can users modify their own entries?

A: Yes. Users call up their entry, click on the Modify Entry box, and enter their password. They can then modify and save theirprofile.

Q: What clients (applications) can AltaVista Directory be accessed by?

A: AltaVista Directory can be accessed by a number of clients. Some of these clients are specific directory applications; others are browsers or clients for applications that can also access the directory. Examples include:

• Web browsers
• MAPI mail clients such as the Microsoft(r) Exchange client and the Microsoft
• Windows(tm) Messaging client
• LDAP clients
• ph and finger clients such as QUALCOMM Eudora(r) Light(tm) and
• QUALCOMM Eudora Pro(tm)

Q: How does the AltaVista Directory compare to Digital's X.500 products and Services?

A: AltaVista Directory is a new product based on existing X.500 technology. AltaVista Directory provides enhancements for Internet and intranet users. Enhancements include: direct, high performance LDAP access, Ph access, Finger access, Web lookup / query interface, and MAPI application support. AltaVista Directory is also much simpler to install, network, configure, and manage.

The following table provides feature-level comparisons.

AltaVista Directory	Digital X.500 Directory
Includes a bundled management interface	Management based on Digital's EMA architecture, and supports multiple management interfaces
TCP/IP	Supports TCP/IP and OSI networking
Out-of-the-box personnel directory application	This is not an out-of-the-box application; it's a development environment for customized X.500 directory applications.
Integrated LDAP, Ph and Finger support	Needs separate LDAP server
Windows NT (Workstation and Server)	UNIX

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