Configuring Thunderbird with LDAP Address Book

 By default Thunderbird does not understand AD, so to get it to resolve the AD ID you would need to add the LDAP Directory to the Address Book. Following Screens show the steps to configure Thunderbird to resolve AD to Email : 

Now’s the time to fill up some details :

Name: Any thing that makes sense to you. Eg : OffAD  

 Hostname: Enter your LDAP Server here, if you don’t know it run “nslookup” from the command prompt to get to know your default LDAP server as shown below.

Base DN: This Is where you have the most work. Download AD Explorer , and select File > Connect , paste the LDAP Server in Connect To followed by your user name and password. 

 Once you are connected to the Directory, Search for your User ID by selecting attribute  = Alias ; Value = your User ID.

Now Dbl-click the result, and copy the “distinguishedName” attribute value. P S: Try removing the CN=”” from the copied value if Replication in Address Book does not succeed.

Bind DN: Key in your Domain\AD ID here.

Click OK again, open the address book: OffAD (which ever name you have given), Select Offline > Replicate : If this succeeds then its done.

To start using this Directory you have added: In Thunderbird, open Tools > Options > Composition > Addressing  and select from the drop down the one you created , and close it by clicking OK.

Further, go to Tools > Accounts Settings > Composition & Addressing > Addressing: select from the drop down the one you created, and close it by clicking OK.

You have successfully configured Directory for Thunderbird, time to test it :  Write  a new message , in the Contacts Sidebar type the AD ID your looking for and Voila !