How to Use Compass to Connect to Active Directory (281682)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.2
This article was previously published under Q281682

SUMMARY

Microsoft Metadirectory Services (MMS) Compass allows you to browse most other Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory servers. In some situations, you may choose to use MMS Compass to log on to Active Directory. If you simply start Compass and point it at the Active Directory server, you are unable to browse that directory. This is because the remote LDAP server is a non-MMS server and you must first define a root, which Compass will use to traverse the tree. Setting the root base gives Compass an anchor from which to query Active Directory. To set the root, you must run MMS Compass from the command line.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use the ADSI Edit snap-in, the LDP utility, or any other LDAP version 3 client, and you incorrectly modify the attributes of Active Directory objects, you can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Microsoft Windows 2000 Server and/or Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect modification of Active Directory object attributes can be resolved. Modify these attributes at your own risk.

To configure Compass to Connect to Active Directory, follow these steps:
  1. Start the command prompt.
  2. Type cd \Program Files\Microsoft Metadirectory Services\Compass, and then press ENTER.
  3. Type compass2 -r "dc=NwTraders,dc=com", and then press ENTER.
  4. After the logon screen appears, you have the same three methods of logging on as you normally have with Compass: Anonymously, through SMTP address, or through your directory object DN. The following is an example of the Administrators directory object DN for Active Directory:

    CN=Administrator,CN=Users,DC=NwTraders,DC=com

  5. Add the Administrators password.

    Compass logs on as the Active Directory Administrator.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Configure in the Servers dialog box.
  8. Click New in the Configure Servers dialog box.
  9. In the Name box, add the name of the domain (for example, Domain1).
  10. Configure a domain controller for compass to connect to in the Servers dialog box. In the host name field, type the Fully Qualified Domain Name for a domain controller that you want to connect to; for example:

    server1.Domain1.com

  11. In the Port box, ensure that LDAP port 389 is set.
  12. Click OK twice.
It may be useful to create a batch file to automatically set the root for Compass at the command line. The following is an example of a batch file that sets the root and starts the Compass logon screen: 
#Assuming the Compass Client is installed on the C: drive.
c:
cd program files\microsoft metadirectory services\compass\ 
compass2.exe -r "dc=domain1,dc=com"
For additional information about using MMS Compass, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

246878 How to Install and Configure a Compass Client to Log On to a Microsoft Metadirectory Services Server

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/25/2006
Keywords:kbhowto kbinfo KB281682
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