Credentia*, a Datacard Group Company, is the world’s leading supplier of card personalization systems with over 20,000 personal identification systems installed worldwide. Credentia ViaNet Identity Information Software is an Internet tool that allows users to search databases throughout their enterprise from their web browsers. ViaNet can retrieve personal identification information, including demographics and full-color images, for the production of employee badges using Credentia’s card production technology.

Until recently, customers have used ViaNet to access data in stand-alone relational databases running on Windows NT* servers. But now Credentia has implemented ViaNet, a new version of the product which employs Novell eDirectory asits database.

Southwest Airlines is a long time user of NetWare and eDirectory, with over 80 servers and 7,000 desktops in its network. In the spring of 1998, budget was approved for a project to rebadge all company personnel. The project is substantial, rebadging over 28,000 employees in 54 locations, including new ID pictures.

"We evaluated sources for rebadging technology and selected Credentia," said Jan Killion, Resource/Projects Team Leader for Southwest. "Their ViaNet product is Web-enabled, which is important to us. We wanted to update our badging technology, and we especially liked the process of capturing photographs digitally. A badging process using digital photograph capture will provide long-term benefits for the company."

"Credentia explained that their established approach is to store data and images in their own database, " said Lee Roth, Southwest’s LAN and Security Services Manager, "but our experience with eDirectory gave me another idea. I knew that eDirectory has the power to store all the necessary images and data, including passwords. Not only would using our enterprise directory save us from having to deploy a new server, but the openness and flexibility of eDirectory could then be exploited to create a sweeping new authentication and security system for the company, with ViaNet’s directory-enabled data as its basis. We asked if Credentia could alter its software to substitute eDirectory for their own database."

After receiving this valuable technical input from a large potential client, Credentia reacted enthusiastically to Roth’s suggestion. "We realized that Southwest was just the first of many potential Credentia customers who would benefit in similar ways by leveraging their eDirectory schema as ViaNet’s database," said Scott Kullman, Software Engineering Manager for Credentia.

In late 1998, Credentia commenced development. "Our first step was to ask Novell for assistance, " said Jim Walters, Credentia’s Program Manager. "They helped us tremendously by explaining the eDirectory components and directory services issues involved. As a result of their help and the tools in the Novell Developer Kit, we were able to complete the implementation in just sixty days."

Credentia ViaNet allows customers to capture employee images and additional demographic information anywhere in the world over the Internet, store them as employee user objects in eDirectory, and instantly issue employee corporate identification badges.

ViaNet runs with Microsoft Internet Information Server*, and supports both popular web browsers. The application and card formats are located on one central server for easy, secure access and to prevent fraudulent card issuance.

In early 1999, Credentia delivered ViaNet to Southwest Airlines. "The efficiency of this process has proven to be everything we expected," said Killion. "Already we have about 20 percent of our employees rebadged, and we expect to finish all employee groups by fall."

"We definitely saved money by using eDirectory as ViaNet’s database, starting with a new server and then adding in all the required support and system administration costs," said Roth. "However, the long-term benefits are far greater. Because eDirectory is completely open and flexible, we can develop new applications that leverage employee data for other purposes. We’re positioning eDirectory as a single authentication source for internally developed applications. Our internal customers can gain access anywhere, any time over the web, using a single sign-on for these applications. We’re expanding the scope of eDirectory so that it becomes the de facto authentication database for the company."

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