A directory service manages the creation, modification, and retrieval of information about network entities. Client-Library and Server-Library applications can use a directory service as an alternative to interfaces to obtain information about servers.
The advantage of using a directory service is that you do not need to update multiple interfaces files when a new server is added to your network or when a server moves to a new address.
UNIX platforms can use Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory services.
