[clug] Querying an Active Directory server via ldapsearch

[Antony Wuth]

Good morning,

I am currently trying to query our shiny new AD servers - initially to
retrieve contact details. I seem to have pretty much run up against a brick
wall.

I have been playing around with ldapsearch and trying to throw together bits
from random google searches but have not had anything that seems to be
remotely close to success.

Things I know;
* We are running windows server 2003.
* I know an IP address (and possibly a port) of a service that appears to be
LDAP.
* I have access to a workstation (with some kinda-admin rights) that can
query the ldap server.
* I can capture LDAP packets and get confused as to what they are meant to
look like.
* Just pointing an ldapclient at the server and asking for the whole tree
receives (the predictable) result of being told to go away.

Things I have not much idea about:
* LDAP
* AD
* The exact scheme in use here,

Does someone know of a good howto or at least some kind of newbie
description of how LDAP is meant to work & Authenticate in the weird MS
world?

Thanks
Antony Wuth