A directory that acts as a superset of all other directories. Metadirectories have evolved from stand-alone products to services that enable a given directory to synchronize and exchange information with other data repositories.
a very different thing than a metadata repository
A directory solution that shares information between all enterprise directories, integrating them into one virtual directory. It centralizes administration, thereby reducing administrative costs. It synchronizes data between directories, thereby ensuring that it is consistent and up-to-date across the enterprise.
An information-flow process that synchronizes data repositories based on business rules. For example, the metadirectory detects a new employee has been added to the HR system and updates the enterprise and departmental NOS directory accordingly.
A centralized service that stores and integrates identity information from multiple directories in an organization providing a unified view. A metadirectory solves important business issues that result from having information stored in multiple, disparate data repositories throughout an organization.
A metadirectory system provides for the flow of data between one or more directory services and databases, in order to maintain synchronization of that data, and is an important part of identity management systems. The data being synchronized typically are collections of entries that contain user profiles and potentially authentication or policy information. Most metadirectory deployments synchronize data into at least one LDAP-based directory server, to ensure that LDAP-based applications such as single sign-on and portal servers have access to recent data, even if the data is mastered in a non-LDAP data source.