Core Server Configuration Reference; Overview Of The Directory Server Configuration; Ldif And Schema Configuration Files - Red Hat DIRECTORY SERVER 8.1 Command Reference Manual

Chapter 2.

Core Server Configuration Reference

The configuration information for Red Hat Directory Server is stored as LDAP entries within the
directory itself. Therefore, changes to the server configuration must be implemented through the
use of the server itself rather than by simply editing configuration files. The principal advantage
of this method of configuration storage is that it allows a directory administrator to reconfigure the
server using LDAP while it is still running, thus avoiding the need to shut the server down for most
configuration changes.
This chapter gives details on how the configuration is organized and how to alter it. The chapter also
provides an alphabetical reference for all attributes.

2.1. Overview of the Directory Server Configuration

When the Directory Server is set up, its default configuration is stored as a series of LDAP entries
within the directory, under the subtree cn=config. When the server is started, the contents of the
cn=config subtree are read from a file (dse.ldif) in LDIF format. This dse.ldif file contains
all of the server configuration information. The latest version of this file is called dse.ldif, the
version prior to the last modification is called dse.ldif.bak, and the latest file with which the server
successfully started is called dse.ldif.startOK.
Many of the features of the Directory Server are designed as discrete modules that plug into the core
server. The details of the internal configuration for each plug-in are contained in separate entries
under cn=plugins,cn=config. For example, the configuration of the Telephone Syntax Plug-in is
contained in this entry:
cn=Telephone Syntax,cn=plugins,cn=config
Similarly, database-specific configuration is stored under
cn=ldbm database,cn=plugins,cn=config for local databases and cn=chaining
database,cn=plugins,cn=config for database links.
The following diagram illustrates how the configuration data fits within the cn=config directory
information tree.
Figure 2.1. Directory Information Tree Showing Configuration Data

2.1.1. LDIF and Schema Configuration Files

The Directory Server configuration data are stored in LDIF files in the /etc/dirsrv/
slapd-instance_name directory (/etc/opt/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name on HP-UX). Thus,
3