In a very small office with light duty requirements, any Snow Leopard machine can share its address book. No server required.

Address Book Server

For very large enterprises, LDAP is a standard. Rather than trying to maintain a continuous connection, records are obtained as needed via search. Even when successfully setup, there will not be any records immediately visible in in the LDAP address book.

On a client machine open Address Book, then Preferences->Accounts click the + sign at the bottom to start the process..

Since LDAP is based purely on search, it must know where to search. Clicking the "Continue" button prompts for an entry for "Search base:" Server Admin->Open Directory->Overview.. for the server in question holds that value. LDAP is designed to scale well in an enterprise setting.

The new account with proper settings now appears in the address book accounts list..

To verify a working connection, do a search. Searching "adm" pulled two records following a default Snow Leopard Server setup.

CardDAV

CardDAV is a new open standard that allows an Address Book on the server to function in most respects exactly like the local address book on any Mac. It is has the added benefit of being very easy to setup after being enabled on the server. A user name and password for an account on the server, and the server address is all that is required.

Then add new cards, or drag and drop cards from the local book to the network book.

These are two distinct data storage locations, with no synchronization of records from local to server. Adding or changing a record in the local book, will not affect the server book, and vice versa. The server book may be set as the default location for new records in address book preferences. A drag and drop from local to network makes a copy on the server, so there will be two records listed in a search of "All Contacts" immediately following the operation.

Dragging and dropping the same card a second time into the same target pops a duplication warning.

The only striking difference between the network and local storage mechanisms, is that label clicking does not work. If you have never used label clicking, it is a popup to allow context sensitive operation on the field. Automations are easily attached to these popups.

Popup Example:

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More info, or want expert heavy lifting? In Southwest, MO, doug.brethower@lakedata.net

Elsewhere, look for a member of the Apple Consultants Network. ACTC - Apple Certified Technical Coordinators. Experts who are educated and trained, who care about giving clients the personalized service and attention to detail that maximizes the value of Apple Server Systems.