Using Internet Locator Directories

An Internet Locator Server (ILS) directory contains a list of people who are currently using Microsoft NetMeeting, SGImeeting, or another ILS-compatible conferencing application. This makes it easy to locate and connect to other people, either by simply browsing to see who is currently listed, or by looking up a specific person by their email address.

In order to log on to a directory, you must specify your own details, such as name, location and email address. You will be prompted for these details the first time you run SGImeeting. You can choose whether to list these details for access by everyone; if you do not, then only those people who know your email address will be able to call you via the directory.

ILS is based on the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) standard for directory access. For more information about ILS, lists of public ILS services, and details of how to download and set up your own ILS server, see the Microsoft ILS Web pages.


How do I...

change my personal information?
log on to a directory server?
log off from a directory server?
refresh the directory list?
log on to a directory when SGImeeting starts?
make myself invisible to other users?
call someone in the directory list?
call someone at a server using their email address?
set up an ILS server?
access an ILS server outside of a firewall?

Changing Personal Information

To change the information that will identify your site when logging onto a directory server, select "Change My Information..." from the Call menu. This displays the "My Information" dialog. The fields in this dialog that you need to fill in are:

Change the details as required and click OK.

The new details will be used the next time you log onto an ILS server. If you are currently logged onto an ILS server your information at the server will be automatically updated.

Logging on to a Directory Server

Log onto a directory server by selecting "Log Onto Directory Server..." from the Call menu. Enter the name of the directory server you want to log onto and click OK.

When SGImeeting has successfully logged onto the directory server, the server is automatically queried for other users also logged onto that directory. To view the directory listing, select "Directory" from the View menu. See Switching Views for more details.

Directory servers that you can log onto include:

Logging off from a Directory Server

To log off from a directory server, select Log Off From Directory Server from the Call menu.

Refreshing the Directory List

The directory list can be refreshed by selecting Refresh Directory in the View menu. This option can only be selected when the directory list is displayed. See Switching Views for information on viewing the directory listing.

Logging on to a Directory When SGImeeting Starts

If you want SGImeeting to automatically log on to a directory server when it starts:

  1. Choose Change My Information... from the Call menu to display the "My Information" dialog.
  2. Select "At startup, log on to the directory server option" and, in the Server Name field, enter the name of the directory server.

The next time you start SGImeeting, it will log on to the directory server you specified.

Making Yourself Invisible to Other Directory Server Users

If you do not wish to be visible to other users when logging on at a directory server, select "Change My information..." in the Call menu to display the "My Information" dialog, and select the "Do not list my name when logged on at the directory server" option.

The next time you log onto a directory server, your details will only be visible to people who know your e-mail address.

If you are currently logged on and visible when you select this option, SGImeeting automatically updates your entry at the directory server and makes you invisible.

Calling Someone in the Directory List

You can call a user shown in the directory list by double clicking on the user's entry in the directory view.

Note that if the "Add to address book" option in the "Place Call" dialog (accessed by choosing Place Call... from the Call menu) is selected, any users you call via the directory list will be added to the speed dial list.

Calling Someone at a Server Using their Email Address

SGImeeting allows you to call a user who is logged onto a directory server by specifying the user's e-mail address. Note that the user does not have to be logged on visibly to do this.

To call a user in this way, type the name of the directory server they are logged onto and the user's e-mail address separated by a "/" character. For example:

ils.microsoft.com/bob@acme.com

SGImeeting queries the specified directory server for a user with the e-mail address you entered. If the user is logged onto the directory server, SGImeeting call them.

Setting up an ILS Server

There are currently no ILS server products for UNIX. An ILS server for Windows NT is available free of charge from Microsoft.

Accessing an ILS Server Outside of a Firewall

The configuration steps required to access an external ILS server, if your system is located inside a firewall, are described in Advanced Troubleshooting.


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