1. An apparatus for managing links to documents within a network of nodes, the nodes including a user station, file server, and directory services server, the apparatus comprising: a file server for storing a plurality of documents, including the document; a directory services server for executing a directory services system to manage a directory services database, containing directory services objects, including a document location object, being an instance of a directory services object, linked together in a hierarchy; a user station configured to execute an installation utility programmed to install the document on the file server and register the document location object in the directory services system for identification of the document by the directory services system; and the installation utility being independent from the directory services system.