October 11, 1999, Issue: 784
Section: Systems & Management
Novell App Eases NDS Configuration -- Company Adds
Configuration Tool And Certificate Server
Mitch Wagner
Novell is introducing software designed to improve the customization and
security of Novell Directory Services.
A new version of ScheMax, a tool for configuring NDS, lets nontechnical end
users make changes to the directory's repositories. Novell has also delivered a
public beta of Certificate Server 2.0 that extends the software's functionality to
issue certificates for users as well as servers and store the certificates in NDS.
ScheMax 1.1, based on technology Novell acquired when it bought Netoria in
May, lets users customize NDS schema for their own businesses, using
graphical tools and wizards. Previously, users had to write C or Java code.
Users can add company-specific attributes to a schema, such as security
clearances, photos of users and employee numbers. The lists can be managed
by non-technical end users who can be granted the authority to change
passwords, change their own phone numbers and addresses, and make other
changes to the schema. Data can be exported to structured text or SQL for
reporting purposes.
The software also lets users create "snap-ins," which are tabbed pages within
a record, similar to the tabs for networking properties in Windows Control
Panel. The snap-ins can include graphics and links to Internet addresses. Data
is stored using XML.
"ScheMax seems to work pretty well across the board," said Ray Schneider,
a PC technology analyst with Graybar Electric Co., which uses ScheMax to
manage a network of 7,000 users. The software gives IT managers a
graphical view of the entire schema tree at once and lets them use the
information for designing application-deployment and application-management
software. Previously, IT managers had to write their own tools in ActiveX or
Java to extract schema information from NDS. Graybar also uses ScheMax to
import data from a human resources database into NDS.
ScheMax 1.1 can be downloaded for a free 60-day trial at
www.novell.com/download/#nds>. The software is priced at $4.50 per user
in increments of 500 or 1,000 users.
Meanwhile, version 2.0 of Novell's Certificate Server toolset extends the first
version of the PKI software shipped in May. User certificates in the new
version permit authentication, data encryption and decryption, and digital
signatures. Functionality to extend the software to include user certification as
well as servers will be valuable to users, said Todd Chipman, an analyst with
Giga Information Group.
"Up to this point they did not support end-user certificates," Chapman said. "It
sounds like they've got a more complete solution in regards to the PKI
infrastructure."
The certificates are compliant with X.509 and SMIME, which means they can
be used with secure e-mail, and can store and retrieve data using LDAP.
There is a one-step procedure for downloading private keys into Web
browsers.
The beta software is available for download at
support.novell.com. |
