Appendix A Distinguished Names; What Is A Distinguished Name - Netscape MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 6.01 - PLUG-IN Manual

This appendix explains what a distinguished name is and how Netscape Certificate
Management System (CMS) uses distinguished names to automatically update
certificate information in your corporate LDAP directory.
The appendix has the following sections:
• What Is a Distinguished Name? (page 309)
• DNs in Certificate Management System (page 312)
• Role of Distinguished Names in Certificates (page 319)
For the most part, the information presented in this appendix is specific to
Netscape Directory Server, an LDAP-compliant directory.

What Is a Distinguished Name?

Distinguished names (DNs) are string representations that uniquely identify users,
systems, and organizations. In general, DNs are used in LDAP-compliant
directories, such as Netscape Directory Server. In Certificate Management System,
you use DNs to identify the owner of a certificate and the authority that issued a
certificate.
NOTE If you are using an LDAP directory in conjunction with Certificate
Management System, the DNs in your certificates should match the
DNs in your directory.
Distinguished Names
Appendix A
309