It’s been almost 5 years since we released UCS 4.0. During this time, UCS has evolved a lot. At the same time, we’ve continued to maintain the old version’s features. While most of them are popular with our users, others are not. There are also some things we would do differently if we had to do them again. By jumping to the next major version, we would like to get rid of some relics and implement several new features at the same time. We’re still at the very beginning, so not all decisions are final yet – but true to the motto “be open” I would like to share some of our ideas and plans in this blog post.
Looking back at the first point release (UCS 4.4-1 in June 2019), our REST API for the Univention Directory Manager was still in beta stadium. Good news: the interface for accessing the directory service is stable now. The API connects applications to the UCS directory service; access is granted via a web service using HTTPS, and data is exchanged JSON format. So, the REST API offers the same functionality as the udm command line tool.
For example, it simplifies the maintenance of user properties or computer objects from connected systems. Developers of applications offered in the Univention App Center also benefit from the new, standardized access because they are no longer limited to the UDM Python interface. The REST API of the Univention Directory Manager is by default activated on all UCS 4.4-2 DC Master and DC Backup instances.
At Univention, we are constantly thinking about how we can add benefit and value to our Univention Corporate Server (UCS) and App Center. One idea born from this is the app suggestion system, which I would like to introduce to you in this article. I would also like to give you some insight into how we work with hypotheses & tests in such projects at Univention. Plus, you will learn how, contrary to many other systems, we at Univention have given top priority to the protection of personal data.
There are significant performance improvements for managing the contents of the directory service via UDM, especially for application scenarios with complex structures. There have also been further minor improvements in DNS management, where the search for IP addresses is now enabled in further modules, as well as in the use of standard containers of domain controller objects.
A “REST API” (also called “RESTful API”) is a web service that allows integration between applications.
The REST API of the Univention Directory Manager provides access to all contents of the Univention Corporate Server (UCS) directory service. Its functionality is therefore comparable to that of the already available and further existing scripting interfaces (e.g. the “udm” command line tool). In contrast to these, however, the API is accessible via the web through HTTPS and can be more easily integrated into existing applications using standardized data formats (JSON).
Strictly speaking, the new diary consists of two apps that you can easily install in your UCS environment through the Univention App Center: the Admin Diary Backend and the Admin Diary Frontend. The backend collects data from all UCS instances in the domain and stores it in a database. The frontend provides access to this log via a module of the Univention Management Console (UMC) and displays the events.
In this blog article, I will introduce you to both apps and also explain how to run backend and frontend on two different computers. This may be useful, for example, if there already is a dedicated database server in your environment: Then you install the backend there. The frontend will be installed on that system, on which you normally use the UMC (e.g. the Master). Let’s start with the standard option: both on one system.
For some time now, the portal with its modern appearance and easy administration has been the central entrance to a UCS domain for users and administrators alike. My colleague Johannes has already described the most important functions of the portal in our article How to Configure the UCS Portal Easily with Drag & Drop. With UCS 4.4, we added some new features which I would like to introduce you to in this article.
