Why Slp Is Needed; Comparing Novell Slp And Openslp - Novell OPEN ENTERPRISE SERVER - PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE 12-2010 Implementation Manual

12.5.1 Why SLP Is Needed

NetWare: Although many other applications and server types rely on SLP for service discovery,
NetWare services are actually integrated with eDirectory, and if eDirectory is configured correctly,
the services work without SLP. However, SLP is automatically provided on NetWare for other
services that might be installed.
OES 2: On the other hand, for OES 2 services to work, the server must either:

Have an eDirectory replica installed.
This is not automatic after the third server installed in a tree, nor is having more than three to
five replicas on servers in the tree recommended.

Have eDirectory registered with the OpenSLP service running on the server.
This requires SLP configuration either during the OES 2 installation or manually.

12.5.2 Comparing Novell SLP and OpenSLP

Table 12-4
Platform
SLP Solution
About the
Solution
112 OES 2 SP3: Planning and Implementation Guide
SLP Solutions
NetWare
Novell SLP
The Novell version of SLP adapted
portions of the SLP standard to provide a
more robust service advertising
environment.
Novell SLP remains the default discovery
mechanism for NetWare 6.5 SP8 servers.
However, all NetWare service
components that engage in discovery,
including Novell Client software, can use
alternative mechanisms such as DNS,
eDirectory, or local host configuration
files.
OES 2
OpenSLP
OpenSLP is an implementation of various
IETF specifications, including RFC 2614
(SLP version 2.0). It is the default SLP
service installed on SLES 10.
In OES 2, OpenSLP is available for those
applications that require it. The default
discovery mechanism is actually DNS, but
SLP must be present for any applications
that require it, especially in those cases
where the OES 2 server is the fourth or
later server added to a tree and doesn't
have an eDirectory replica automatically
installed.