Slp Agents; Directory Agents - Novell NETWARE 6-DOCUMENTATION Manual

SLP Agents

Directory Agents

18
Server Communications Administration Guide
The three types of agents that NetWare 5 SLP uses are
User agents, which acquire service handles for user applications
Service agents, which advertise service handles
Directory agents, which collect service handles in internetworked
enterprises
Applications running on a computer are represented by a User agent that
understands the service and resource needs of the application. Each network
service is represented by a Service agent, which makes it available to user
agents. SLP dynamically maintains service attributes, so that a User agent can
obtain current information.
Of the agents, the Directory Agents (page 18)
SLP.
The point of interface between SLP and NDS is the SLP Directory agent. The
Directory agent is a common data storage of network service information
collected through SLP. The Directory agent uses NDS as its database for
network service information that is distributed globally. NDS adds significant
value to SLP by leveraging existing NDS standards for configuring NDS tree
structures, for a central point of administration, and for the ability of NDS to
replicate service information.NDS replication services allow Directory agent-
to-Directory agent communication. This is unique in SLP implementations
and it facilitates global distribution of SLP database information. NDS replica
services give the Directory agent the ability to access global services from a
local replica. The Directory agent is responsible for processing the following
SLP protocol messages:
Service Registration
Service Deregistration
Service Request
Service Type Request
Attribute Request
These SLP protocol messages either enter, delete, or query information in the
Directory agent's service database.
have the largest role in NDS