1.1 Getting Started

The following sections cover a few basic requirements for getting set up and started with the LDAP Libraries for C:

1.1.1 Dependencies

In addition to LDAP Libraries for C, you need the following to take full advantage of the functionality offered in the libraries:

  • LDAP Server. The libraries can be used to access any LDAP server and its directory. If you are using them to access eDirectory, the LDAP server must be running on NDS® 7.xx or higher to access LDAP v3 functionality. Other servers in the tree can be running earlier versions of NDS; only the LDAP server needs to be on NDS 7.xx or higher. For information on the functionality available in various versions of NDS/eDirectory, see NDK: LDAP and eDirectory Integration.

  • SSL. To use SSL, the LDAP server and the LDAP client must be configured for SSL. For more information, see Section 1.3, Authentication and Security.

  • LDAP Extensions for eDirectory. To use the LDAP extensions for partition and replica management, and getting effective rights, the LDAP server must be running on eDirectory 8.5 or higher. To obtain a copy, see Novell eDirectory evalutation site.

1.1.2 Platform Libraries and Header Files

The LDAP Libraries for C includes the following header files.

Table 1-1 Header File Description

Header File

Description

ldap.h

Contains the prototypes for all the standard LDAP functions

ldapx.h

Contains the prototypes for LDAP functions for extensions

ldapssl.h

Contains the prototypes for all of the LDAP SSL functions

ldaputf8.h

Contains the prototypes for all of the UTF-8 conversions routines

The following header files are included in the LDAP libraries for C, but are linked by the header files listed in the previous table:

  • lber.h

  • lber_types.h

  • ldap_cdefs.h

  • ldap_features.h

The LDAP Libraries for C have been compiled into the following libraries (UNIX* platforms add a lib prefix to the library names):

Table 1-2 Platform Libraries

Library

Platforms

ldapsdk.dll

ldapx.dll

ldapssl.dll

nmas.dll

Win32 platforms (Windows* 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT* server with SP 4 or newer, Windows NT workstation with SP 3 or SP 4), Windows Vista 64-bit.

NOTE:nmas.dll is used to perform a bind using Novell Modular Authentication Services.

ldapsdk.nlm

ldapx.nlm

ldapssl.nlm

NetWare® 6 with eDirectory 8.6 (or higher), NetWare 5 with SP4 and NDS 8.2x, NetWare 5.1 with NDS 8.3x

libldapsdk.so

libldapx.so

libldapssl.so

Solaris* (2.6 and 2.7), Linux* (Red Hat 7.2), AIX*, Linux 64-bit.

libldapsdk.sl

libldapx.sl

libldapssl.sl

HP-UX* ( 11.11 )

1.1.3 Supported Platforms

The LDAP Libraries for C SDK enables application developers to write applications to access, manage, update and search for information stored in eDirectory and other LDAP-aware directories.

Client applications remotely access directory information stored on an LDAP server. The libraries currently support development of such applications on the following platforms:

  • NetWare 6™

  • NetWare 5.1™

  • Windows NT* workstation 4.0 with SP 3 and SP 4

  • Windows 95*

  • Windows 98*

  • Windows 2000*

  • Windows XP*

  • Solaris 2.8*

  • Linux (tested on Red Hat 7.2*)

  • AIX 4.3*

  • HP-UX 11.11*

  • Windows Vista* 32-bit and 64-bit

  • Linux 64-bit*

The Novell LDAP server is currently available on NetWare 6, NetWare 5.x, and eDirectory (for NetWare, NT, Solaris, Linux, and AIX).

1.1.4 Supported Compilers

The libraries can be used with the following C compilers:

  • Microsoft Visual Studio C++ versions 5 and 6 for Windows

  • Borland C Compiler for Windows

  • CodeWarrior from Metrowerks for NLM

  • Watcom for NLM

  • GCC 2.95.2 for Linux

  • Solaris vendor-supplied compiler (built using Sun Workshop Compiler 5.0)

  • AIX vendor-supplied compiler (built using AIX Compiler version 5)

  • CC compiler for HP-UX

  • Microsoft Visual Studio C++ version 8 for Windows Vista 64-bit

1.1.5 Tutorials

DeveloperNet University has developed an LDAP tutorial that creates a White Pages application. This application is similar to looking up information in the white pages of a phone book and allows users to browse and search for employees in a company, view their pictures, and obtain phone numbers, titles, and other information.

To access this tutorial, see Programming NDS with C LDAP.

1.1.6 Sample Code

To access LDAP sample code, check the following sites:

  • For source code examples that use the standard functions for LDAP operations (such as search, add, modify, and delete), see the LDAP sample code for C.

  • For source code examples that use the Novell LDAP extensions for LDAP partition operations (such as add, modify, and delete replicas or splitting and joining partitions), see the LDAP sample code for extensions.

  • For source code and task examples that authenticate, search, and read, see the LDAP examples in the Library and Laboratory departments of DeveloperNet University.