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Adding LDAP access

The LDAP protocol was created to let users share contact information over a network by sharing access to a central directory. LDAP allows a company to maintain a shared set of contact information. Many companies keep a common LDAP address book for all their employees or for client contacts.

Adding an LDAP address book

  1. Click File ▸ New ▸ Address Book.

  2. In the General tab, select the type On LDAP Servers.

  3. Enter a name that you prefer.

  4. Enter the address of the server, the port number (the default number is 389) and whether you want to connect securely.

  5. Define the login method and your username.

  6. Click Apply.

  7. In the Details tab you can define the following settings:

    • Search Base: The search base is the starting point for a directory search. Contact your system administrator for information about the correct settings.

    • Search Scope: The search scope is the breadth of a given search.

      The following options are available:

      • One: Searches the Search Base and one entry below it.

      • Sub: Searches the Search Base and all entries below it.

    • Search Filter: The search filter can be set here for all the LDAP queries. For example:

      • ObjectClass=*: Lists all the objects from the server.

      • ObjectClass=User: Lists only the users.

      • Filter (|(ObjectClass=User)(ObjectClass=groupOfNames)): Retrieves the User and Contact List objects.

      • (&(mail=*)(ObjectClass=*)): Lists the objects associated with the email addresses.

    • Timeout (minutes): The maximum time Evolution attempts to download data from the server before giving up.

    • Download Limit: The maximum number of results for a given search. Most servers refuse to send more than 500 contacts, but you can set the number lower if you want to shorten downloads for very broad searches.

If you are unsure about some settings, ask your system administrator.

Differences to local address books

LDAP address books work like local address books on your computer, with the following exceptions:

  • Network folders are only available when you are connected to the network. If you use a laptop or have a modem connection, you might want to copy or cache some of the network directory. You do this by dragging and dropping your desired contacts into the local address books.

  • You can also mark the network folder for offline usage. To mark the folder, right-click the folder, click Properties and select Copy folder content locally for offline operation.

  • To prevent excess network traffic, Evolution does not normally load data from the LDAP server upon opening.

  • Depending on your server settings, you might not be able to edit all the fields in a contact stored on an LDAP server. Some servers prohibit some or all changes, and others use a smaller set of fields than Evolution allows. Check with your system administrator if you need different settings.