Ganymede (software)
| Company type | Open source software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Network directory administration |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Products | Network directory administration framework |
Ganymede is an open source framework designed for network directory administration, allowing teams of administrators to collaboratively oversee specific segments of an organization's directory services, which include NIS, DNS, Active Directory / LDAP, DHCP, and RADIUS. Initially introduced at the 1998 USENIX LISA conference, Ganymede has been continuously developed and utilized in public environments since its debut.
The architecture centers around a main server that supports client connections through Java RMI. This server manages a transactional object graph database encompassing network components such as users, groups, systems, and networks. Administrators interact with the system via GUI or XML clients to add, update, or remove objects. When transactions are finalized, the server initiates background tasks that refresh network source files and run scripts to disseminate updates across the managed directory services. This scheduling mechanism guarantees that directory images remain transactionally consistent even with multiple administrators working simultaneously.
Ganymede offers programmability for users who can define bespoke object data types and implement custom logic governing GUI behavior and data integrity. Additionally, they have the capability to establish scheduled operations that either alter the database or execute external scripts to synchronize services.
An elaborate XML schema facilitates both importing and exporting of the database structure and contents, enabling directory service rebuilds comparable to those performed through the GUI interface.
Built with administrative teams in mind, Ganymede structures administrators into 'Owner Groups' responsible for managing specific objects. Any modifications generate email notifications sent to group members to support effective oversight. These Owner Groups can be assigned control over arbitrary portions of the database, providing adaptable partitioning of network directories.
As a flexible framework, Ganymede requires tailoring to suit particular directory management needs. For instance, Fundamental Generic Networking in Germany utilizes it as the core platform for their Doctor DNS initiative, which handles DNS management at Kaiserslautern University of Technology.