Red Hat DIRECTORY SERVER 7.1 - DEPLOYMENT Deployment Manual page 24

Directory Design Overview
Your directory will contain data, such as user names, telephone numbers, and
group details. In chapter 2, "How to Plan Your Directory Data," on page 27,
you analyze the various sources of data in your organization and understand
their relationship with one another. It describes the types of data you might
store in your directory and other tasks you need to perform to design the
contents of your Directory Server.
• How to Design the Schema.
Your directory is designed to support one or more directory-enabled
applications. These applications have requirements of the data you store in
your directory, such as format. Your directory schema determines the
characteristics of the data stored in your directory. The standard schema
shipped with Directory Server is introduced in chapter 3, "How to Design the
Schema," on page 43, along with describing how to customize the schema
and providing tips for maintaining consistent schema.
• Designing the Directory Tree.
Once you decide what data your directory contains, you need to organize and
reference that data. This is the purpose of the directory tree. In chapter 4,
"Designing the Directory Tree," on page 61, the directory tree is introduced,
and you are guided through the design of your data hierarchy. Sample
directory tree designs are also provided.
• Designing the Directory Topology.
Topology design involves determining how you divide your directory tree
among multiple physical Directory Servers and how these servers
communicate with one another. The general principles behind topology
design, using multiple databases, the mechanisms available for linking your
distributed data together, and how the directory itself keeps track of
distributed data are all described in chapter 5, "Designing the Directory
Topology," on page 91.
• Designing the Replication Process.
With replication, multiple Directory Servers maintain the same directory data
to increase performance and provide fault tolerance, as described in chapter
6, "Designing the Replication Process," on page 111. This chapter describes
how replication works, what kinds of data you can replicate, common
replication scenarios, and tips for building a highly available directory
service.
24 Red Hat Directory Server Deployment Guide • May 2005