Red Hat 8.1 - Manual (Page 12)

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, if a server identifier is phonebook, then for a Directory Server on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
(32-bit), the configuration LDIF files are all stored under /etc/dirsrv/slapd-phonebook.
This directory also contains other server instance-specific configuration files.
Schema configuration is also stored in LDIF format, and these files are located in the
/etc/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name/schem a directory
(/etc/opt/dirsrv/slapd->instance_name on HP-UX).
The following table lists all of the configuration files that are supplied with the Directory Server, including
those for the schema of other compatible servers. Each file is preceded by a number which indicates the
order in which they should be loaded (in ascending numerical and then alphabetical order).
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Chapter 2. Core Server Configuration Reference