Netscape DIRECTORY SERVER 6.1 - DEPLOYMENT Deployment Manual page 22

Directory Design Overview
• 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. Chapter 3, "How to Design
the Schema," introduces the standard schema shipped with Directory Server,
describes how to customize the schema, and provides 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," 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. Chapter 5, "Designing the Directory
Topology," describes the general principles behind topology design, discusses
using multiple databases, describes the mechanisms available for linking your
distributed data together, and explains how the directory itself keeps track of
distributed data.
• Designing the Replication Process.
With replication, multiple Directory Servers maintain the same directory data
to increase performance and provide fault tolerance. Chapter 6, "Designing the
Replication Process," describes how replication works, what kinds of data you
can replicate, common replication scenarios, and tips for building a highly
available directory service.
• Designing a Secure Directory.
Finally, you need to plan how to protect the data in the directory and design
the other aspects of your service to meet the security requirements of your
users and applications. Chapter 7, "Designing a Secure Directory," describes
common security threats, provides an overview of security methods, discusses
the steps in analyzing your security needs, and provides tips for designing
access controls and protecting the integrity of your directory data.
22 Netscape Directory Server Deployment Guide • August 2002