Data Connection adds LDAP support to DC X500 director server.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 1996--Data Connection Limited (DCL), the leading independent vendor of standards-based messaging and directory products, today announced that it is adding Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP, RFC 1777) support to its DC X500 Directory Server.

LDAP is a protocol for accessing directory services over the TCP/IP protocol, and can be used to access directory services supporting the CCITT X.500 directory standard. It provides a standard way for Internet clients, applications and WWW servers to access directory information across the Internet.

Nigel Ratcliffe, DCL Directory Chief Architect commented that "LDAP is a very simple protocol - and that is its attraction. It is ideal for universal directory access for WWW Browsers and Windows applications, and its increasing adoption will encourage the growth of a truly global directory on the Internet. Realistically, LDAP can't be used to support the directory infrastructure. That is where you need real directory servers and sophisticated protocols for advanced management, replication and distribution. You still need X.500 and industrial strength directory servers in the directory backbone."

DCL's DC X500 Directory Server is a vendor-independent, cross-platform directory server available natively on Windows NT, UNIX and OS/2, with which corporates can build large-scale Enterprise Directories, for both Intranet and Internet access. It is a CCITT 1993 X.500 compliant Directory System Agent (DSA), and supports Directory Access Protocol (DAP), Directory System Protocol (DSP), Directory Information Shadowing Protocol (DISP) - and now Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). It can be accessed from WWW Browsers via HTTP and LDAP, Windows applications, X.500 Directory User Agents (DUAs) and even touch-tone phones. It has extensive back-end integration support for existing groupware/email directories (such as Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, and Novell GroupWise) and line-of-business information databases (such as customer records, human resources and EDI) to allow corporate directory administrators to build a single Enterprise Directory on top of, and alongside, existing directories and databases.

DCL is delivering the DC X500 Directory Server now, with the LDAP feature available in Beta in June and full release by September.

DCL has built its reputation on engineering leading-edge messaging and directory server agents, which are embedded within email and groupware products from leading vendors - such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes. John Cooper, the Director in charge of DCL's Messaging and Directory Developments, said "Major corporates are increasingly looking to build large-scale Enterprise Directories, pulling together the existing diverse mix of email, groupware and corporate information databases into a single enterprise-wide directory. Our DC X500 Directory Server is an open solution, which can be accessed from all common desktop environments - and even touch-tone phones - and the has richest range of directory integration and synchronization capabilities."

"This is not just freeware or a port of university code" said David Ferris of Ferris Networks. "DCL really knows how to build industrial strength products, and their DC X500 Directory Server is designed to really meet corporate needs. The fact that it is vendor-independent and available on a range of platforms makes it a really attractive offering."

The DC X500 Directory Server includes the following key features:

- Support for Windows NT, OS/2 and UNIX (including HP-UX and IBM AIX)

- CCITT X.500 1993 DAP, DSP, DISP (with 1988 compatibility)

- LADP (RFC 1777)

- 1993 Basic Access Control

- TCP/IP (RFC 1006) and X.25 Access

- Access via HTTP (WWW Browsers), Windows DUA applications and touch-tone phones

- Integration with Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes and Novell GroupWise

- Common User and MHS (X.402) schema, and COSINE and Internet schema (RFC 1274)

- Customizable schema - for accounts, network equipment databases, human resources Centralized and distributed directory administration

- Full accounting and billing, plus auditing of access and administration

- SNMP network management support

- US and UK GOSIP profiles

- Tested within Paradise and EuroSInet, and with the University of Michigan, NASA and Umea University (Sweden) DUAs.

Data Connection Limited (DCL) is the leading independent developer and supplier of Messaging, Directory, SNA and ATM portable software technology products with customers including Hewlett- Packard, IBM Corp, Lotus, Microsoft, and large end-users (such as banks, government and airlines). Further offerings include data-conferencing and retail software. Data Connection is headquartered in London, UK, with US offices in Virginia. It was founded in 1981 and is privately held. During each of the past 15 years Data Connection's profits have exceeded 20% of revenue. Last year, the company's sales were approximately $20M, of which over 90% were overseas, mostly in the US. -0-

Data Connection is a Trademark and DC X500 Directory Server is a Registered Trademark of Data Connection Limited (UK) and Data Connection Corporation (US). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Data Connection

Tony Downes, 44 181 366 1177

John Cooper, 44 181 363 1533

Directory Business Unit,

email: [e-mail]