A list of resources in a network, which include users, groups, permissions, devices and management policies. Also called a "directory service," when given a username, the network directory returns the profile of the individual, which can include permissions for data access, as well as employee information. When given a machine name, the directory returns the configuration of the hardware, including IP address. See
X.500,
LDAP,
naming service,
Active Directory and
ULS server.