| Platform SDK: Exchange Server |
The Microsoft Exchange Server directory contains objects that are the principal means for applications to find and access services, mailboxes, recipients, public folders, and other addressable objects within the messaging system. For example, if a directory object represents a public folder with its own destination address, users and applications can send messages directly to the public folder through the messaging system.
The directory consists of two components: the directory database and the directory service agent. The directory database stores directory information. The directory service agent manipulates the information in the directory database and handles directory requests from applications and services.
The importance of the directory in application development is usually the information provided from the directory service about the state of objects in the Microsoft Exchange Server system.
Directory information can be accessed in the following ways:
When MAPI address book functions are used, applications interact with the Microsoft Exchange Server directory as a standard MAPI address book. The directory access functions give applications direct access to information within the directory, subject to security restrictions.
For more information about support for LDAP by the Microsoft Exchange Server directory service, see Using the LDAP Protocol.