Java Naming and Directory Interface

Overview

The Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) provides naming and directory functionality to apps written in the Java programming language.

The JNDI architecture consists of an API and an SPI.

Java 2 SDK, v 1.4 includes JNDI and four service providers. These packages are available separately for use with the JDK 1.1.x, the Java 2 SDK, v 1.2 and v 1.3.

See Also:

  1. JNDI Tutorial
  2. JNDI Executive Summary
  3. JNDI API
  4. JNDI SPI
  5. JNDI API and SPI Specification

 

Enhancements Since Version 1.4.0

DNS Service Provider

LDAP Service Provider

 

Enhancements Since Version 1.3

DNS Service Provider

An Internet Domain Naming System (DNS) service provider has been added. This component enables apps to read data stored in the DNS.

Security Enhancements to the LDAP Service Provider

These enhancements bring the LDAP service provider in conformance with standard LDAP security requirements (RFC 2829) and promote better interoperability with widely deployed LDAP servers.

  • Support for the "Start TLS" (Transport Layer Security) extension (RFC 2830) and External SASL authentication mechanism. This enables apps to establish secure sessions over existing LDAP connections. This feature introduces two new classes.

  • Support for the GSS-API/Kerberos v5 SASL authentication mechanism (RFC 2222). This enables secure, authenticated access to the Windows 2000 and XP Active Directory servers.
  • Support for the Digest-MD5 SASL authentication mechanism (RFC 2831).

See the LDAP Service Provider documentation and the JNDI Tutorial for details and examples.

corbaname and corbaloc URL Support

The COS naming service provider supports the Interoperable Naming Service (INS) specification (99-12-03). This enables apps to use the "corbaname" URL from the initial context and to configure the provider by using the "corbaname" and "corbaloc" URLs.

JNDI Service Providers

To use JNDI with a particular naming or directory service, you need a JNDI service provider, which is a module that plugs in beneath the JNDI API to access the naming or directory service. The Java Software Web site maintains a list of service providers available for JNDI.

Java 2 SDK, v 1.4 includes the following service providers:

  1. The LDAP Service Provider
  2. The COS Naming Service Provider
  3. The RMI Registry Service Provider
  4. The DNS Service Provider

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