This document describes maX.500 version 2.0.1 created for people who are affiliated with the University of Michigan. If you are not affiliated with U-M, you should obtain the "maX.500 2.0.1 non-UMich" distribution instead of this one. There are minor differences in U-M and non U-M versions.
• What is it?
maX.500 is an X.500 Directory client (user agent) for Macintosh. X.500 is an international standard for online directory services, and it is being implemented at a large number of sites across the world. X.500 is being used initially for "white pages" information; i.e., information about people and organizations. maX.500 allows you to search the directory, view entries, and make changes (if you have permission).
On campus, we have an X.500 Online Directory that contains entries for over 85,000 students, faculty, and staff.
maX.500 is a product of the X.500 Directory project within the University of Michigan Information Technology Division.
• Availability
maX.500 is free for everyone to use (see the copyright at the end of this file for more information). The latest version of maX.500 is always available via anonymous ftp in the /x500/max500 directory on terminator.rs.itd.umich.edu. It is also widely available on the UMICH Mac software archive (mac.archive.umich.edu) and its many mirror sites in the util/communication folder. If you have access to the Central Campus AppleTalk network, you can use the Chooser to access maX.500 by choosing any of the "IFS_Production" servers in the "umich-IFS" AppleTalk zone, mounting the "Mac_Archives" volume as guest, and opening the "util" folder and then the "comm" folder. Look for a folder called "maX500 2.0.1 UMich."
• Getting Help with maX.500
If you are at the University of Michigan, you can get assistance with maX.500 by calling 764-HELP or by sending e-mail to: online.consulting@umich.edu
General questions or comments about maX.500 should be sent via electronic mail to the address: x500@umich.edu
• Written Information
The maX.500 application includes an online help system that explains the features and use of maX.500. For more general information about the X.500 Online Directory, refer to the ITD publication "Online Directory Services: User Overview," Reference R1124. Call 763-8961 or send e-mail to itd.doc@umich.edu to request a copy.
• Getting Started
maX.500 2.0.1 requires a Macintosh Plus or newer Mac running Apple System Software Version 6.0.5 or later (including System 7). It also requires Apple's MacTCP control panel and a TCP/IP network connection. If you already use applications such as NCSA Telnet, NCSA Mosaic, or Fetch, MacTCP is probably already installed and properly configured. If not, ask your system administrator or a colleague for assistance.
You can authenticate to make changes to your X.500 entry (or to add groups) using your uniqname and Kerberos password. This requires the Authentication Manager control panel (AuthMan), which is installed on most machines in the Campus Computing Sites. If you are installing maX.500 on your own Macintosh, you will need to install the AuthMan control panel yourself. You can find a copy inside the "Authentication Manager" folder. For detailed installation instructions, refer to the maX.500 online help tutorial topic "Installing the Authentication Manager." Basically, you need to drop the Authentication Manager control panel into your System Folder, set the time zone using the Map control panel, set the date and time using the General Controls control panel, and re-start your Macintosh.
When you launch maX.500 (by double-clicking on the "maX.500 2.0.1" icon), it will try to connect to an LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server. LDAP servers are specified by Internet domain name. The default server is ldap.itd.umich.edu, and you will probably not have any need to change it.
Once maX.500 has finished starting up, you can click the Help icon on the command palette (or choose "maX.500 Help" from the Help menu) to open the maX.500 online help. The online help can be printed if you would rather study it on paper.
• Mailing lists
There are several maX.500-related mailing lists you may be interested in joining:
max500.announce@umich.edu - this list is where information about new versions, availability of documentation, etc. will be sent. To join, send a message to: max500.announce-request@umich.edu or join the list (which is an X.500 group) using maX.500 itself.
max500-testers@umich.edu - this is a list of beta testers. If you are interested in obtaining pre-release versions and providing feedback to the authors, send e-mail to: max500-testers-request@umich.edu
• Copyright and other legalese
The following copyright applies to maX.500 2.0.1 and associated documents:
