System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (DNS, NIS, and LDAP)

Selecting an Configuration Process

You can configure iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 software using one of the four different configuration methods provided in the setup program.

Beyond determining which type of configuration process you will use, the process for configuring iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 is as follows:

  1. Plan your directory service. By planning your directory tree in advance, you can design a service that is easy to manage and easy to scale as your organization grows. For guidance on planning your directory service, refer to the iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 Deployment Guide.

  2. Configure your iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 as described in this chapter.

  3. Create the directory suffixes and databases. You do not have to populate your directory now; however, you should create the basic structure for your tree, including all major roots and branch points. For information about the different methods of creating a directory entry, refer to the iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 Administrator's Guide.

  4. Create additional iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 instances and set up replication agreements between your iPlanet Directory Server 5.1 instances to ensure availability of your data.