How To Start Using The Apple Open Directory On MacOS

Apple Open Directory is the implementation of the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) (photo: x @appleinsider)

Jakarta - Apple Open Directory is the implementation of the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) developed by Apple, and is an important part of the management of the macOS environment. Here is a guide to start using the Apple Open Directory.

Apple Open Directory is a directory service that provides a center for storing user information, passwords, groups, and other network entities. This is the result of the development of Apple's OpenLDAP project. In addition, Open Directory also includes Kerberos ticket-based authentication servers.

Within the company's or organizational environment, service libraries allow the consolidation of user and device information into one place, as well as access authorization to network resources. Apple Open Directory helps in this case by providing an integrated system for user and device management on macOS.

To access and manage the Apple Open Directory on macOS, you can use the Directory Utility application. Here are the steps to get started:

Find Directory Utility: The Directory Utility application is originally located in folders /Utilities on macOS, but may now be hidden in /System/Library/Core Services/Applications. To access it, make aka from this application by holding Command-Option and dragging the application to a location on your disk.

Using Directory Utility:

If you are developing an application that requires access to the Apple Open Directory, you can add the following framework to your Xcode project:

To add it, navigate to the Target in your Xcode project, then click the "+" button in the pane Frameworks, Libraries, and Embeddd Content in the General tab. Select the framework required from the sheet that appears.

Apple provides APIs for the Apple Open Directory via the OpenDirectory framework. This API is simple with only 9 classes and one QDQueryDelegate protocol. By using ODNode objects, QDQuery, QDRecord, and ODSesion, you can start OD sessions, configure them, and query them to manipulate OD records.

For more information, you can refer to the Apple Directory Utility User Guide and LDAPWiki for guidance on LDAP.

The Apple Open Directory provides an effective solution for the messy management in macOS and is integrable with various other directory services to meet the network and security needs of your company.