Using Directories

An Internet Locator Server (ILS) directory contains a list of people who are currently using Microsoft NetMeeting, SunForum, or another ILS-compatible conferencing application. This makes it easy to locate and connect to other people, either by simply browsing to see who is currently listed, or by looking up a specific person by their email address.

In order to log on to a directory, you must specify your own details, such as name, location and email address. You will be prompted for these details the first time you run SunForum. You can choose whether to list these details for access by everyone; if you do not, then only those people who know your email address will be able to call you via the directory.

ILS is based on the LDAP standard for directory access. For more information about ILS, lists of public ILS services, and details of how to download and set up your own ILS server, see the Microsoft ILS Web pages.


Changing your personal information
Logging on to a directory server
Logging off from a directory server
Refreshing the directory list
Logging on to a directory when SunForum starts
Making yourself invisible to other users
Calling someone in the directory list
call someone at a server using their email address
Setting up an ILS server
Accessing an ILS server outside of a firewall

Changing personal information

To change the information which will identify your site when logging onto a directory server, select Change My Information from the Call menu. This displays the My Information dialog. The fields in this dialog that you need to fill in are:

Change the details as required and select OK.

The new details will be used the next time you log onto an ILS server. If you are currently logged onto an ILS server your information at the server will be automatically updated.

Logging On to a Directory Server

Log onto a directory server by selecting Log Onto Directory Server from the Call menu. Enter the name of the directory server you want to log onto and select OK.

When SunForum has successfully logged onto the directory server, the server is automatically queried for other users also logged onto that directory. To view the directory listing, select "Directory" from the View menu. See Switching between the conference status and directory list view for more details.

Public directory servers which you can log onto include

Logging Off from a Directory Server

To log off from a directory server, select "Log Off From Directory Server" from the Call menu.

Refreshing the Directory List

The directory list can be refreshed by selecting "Refresh Directory" in the "View" menu. This option can only be selected when the directory list is displayed. See Switching between the conference status and directory list view for information on viewing the directory listing.

Logging On to a Directory When SunForum Starts

If you want SunForum to automatically log onto a directory server when it starts, select "Change My information..." in the Call menu to display the "My information" dialog.

Select the "At startup, log on to the directory server" option and type the name of the directory server you want to log onto in the "Server Name" field.

The next time you start SunForum, it will log onto the directory server you specified.

Making Yourself Invisible to Other Users

If you do not wish to be visible to other users when logging on at a directory server, select "Change My information..." in the Call menu to display the "My Information" dialog, and select the "Do not list my name when logged on at the directory server" option.

The next time you log onto a directory server, your details will only be visible to people who know your e-mail address.

If you are currently logged on and visible when you select this option, SunForum automatically updates your entry at the directory server and makes you invisible.

Calling Someone in the Directory List

You can call a user shown in the directory list by double clicking on the user's entry in the directory view.

Note that if the "Add to speed dial list" option in the "Place Call" dialog (accessed by selecting the "Place Call..." option in the Call menu) is selected, any users you call via the directory list will be added to the speed dial list.

Calling Someone at a Server Using Their Email Address

SunForum allows you to call a user who is logged onto a directory server by specifying the user's e-mail address. Note that the user does not have to be logged on visibly to do this.

To call a user in this way, type the name of the directory server they are logged onto and the user's e-mail address separated by a "/" character. For example:

ils.microsoft.com/bob@acme.com

SunForum queries the specified directory server for a user with the e-mail address you entered. If the user is logged onto the directory server, SunForum will try to start a call with them.

Setting Up an ILS Server

There are currently no ILS server products for UNIX. An ILS server for Windows NT is available free of charge from Microsoft.

Accessing an ILS Server Outside of a Firewall

The configuration steps required to access an external ILS server, if your system is located inside a firewall, are described in Advanced Troubleshooting.


Copyright 1997 - 1998 Data Connection Ltd.

Copyright 1998 Sun Microsystems, Inc