Understanding Calendar Server Schema Choices

Two schema options are available and supported with Calendar Server: Sun Java System LDAP Schema version 1 and Sun Java System LDAP Schema version 2.

Refer to the Sun Java System Communications Services 6 2005Q4 Schema Migration Guide for information on how to migrate from Sun Java System LDAP Schema version 1 to Sun Java System LDAP Schema version 2.

Deciding Which Schema to Use for Calendar Server

Choosing the schema that’s right for your Calendar Server installation depends on your provisioning needs:

• Are you integrating Calendar Server with other Java Enterprise System component products, such as Portal Server or Access Manager, which provide single sign-on capabilities?

  If you answer Yes, then you must use Schema 2 Native Mode.

• Are you installing Calendar Server for the first time or are you upgrading from an older version?

  If you are installing Calendar Server for the first time, use Schema 2 Native Mode.

  If you are upgrading from an older version of Calendar Server, you can either use Schema 1 or Schema 2 Native or Compatibility Mode.

• Do you plan to use either Access Manager CLI utilities for provisioning or single sign-on?

  If you answer Yes, use Schema 2 Native or Compatibility Mode.

• Do you want to use the Calendar Server csdomain utility for provisioning domains?

  If you answer Yes, use Schema 2 Native or Compatibility Mode. If you don’t plan to use the csdomain utility, and you have an existing Calendar Server installation, use Schema 1.

• If you don’t want to use either Access Manager or Calendar Server CLI utilities for provisioning, use can use either Schema 2 Native Mode for new installations, or Schema 1 or Schema 2 Compatibility Mode for existing Calendar Server installations.

LDAP Schema 1 and Calendar Server

LDAP Schema 1 is a provisioning schema that consists of both an Organization Tree and a DC Tree. This set of schema (at the time, it was simply called “schema”) was supported in previous Calendar Server 5.x versions.

When Calendar Server searches for user or group entries, it looks at the user's or group’s domain node in the DC Tree and extracts the value of the inetDomainBaseDN attribute. This attribute holds a DN reference to the organization subtree containing the actual user or group entry.

Only sites that have installed previous versions of Calendar Server should use Schema 1.

Migrating to Schema 2 is imperative if you plan to install Calendar Server with other Sun Java System products in the future.

LDAP Schema 1 and Calendar Server Supported Provisioning Tools

Schema 1 supports LDAP provisioning tools. For more information, see Understanding Provisioning Tools.

LDAP Schema 2 (Native Mode) and Calendar Server

Schema 2 is a set of provisioning definitions that describes the types of information that can be stored as entries by using the Directory Server LDAP.

The native mode uses search templates to search the LDAP directory server. Once the domain is found by using the domain search template, the user or group search templates are used to find a specific user or group.

You should use native mode if you are installing Communications Suite for the first time and you do not have other applications on your machine that are dependent on a two-tree provisioning model. You should also use this mode if you want to install other products in the Java Enterprise System product suite.

If you have an existing Communications Suite 5.x installation that uses Schema 1, and you want to integrate Communications Suite with other Java Enterprise Server products, you should migrate your directory to Schema 2 after you upgrade to Communications Suite 6. Refer to the Sun Java System Communications Services 6 2005Q4 Schema Migration Guide for information on how to migrate from LDAP Schema version 1 to LDAP Schema version 2.

Schema 2 Native Mode is the recommended provisioning model for all Sun Java System products in the Java Enterprise System product suite.

LDAP Schema 2 and Calendar Server Supported Provisioning Tools

Schema 2 supports Sun Java System Delegated Administrator. For more information, see Understanding Provisioning Tools.

LDAP Schema 2 Compatibility Mode and Calendar Server

Schema 2 compatibility mode is an interim mode between Schema 1 and Schema 2 native mode. Schema 2 compatibility mode supports both schemas and enables you to retain the existing two-tree design you already have. Schema 2 compatibility mode also assumes that you have installed Access Manager prior to installing Messaging Server.

Use Schema 2 Compatibility if you have existing applications that require Schema 1, but you also need functionality that requires Schema 2, for example, Access Manager, single sign-on, and so forth.

Schema 2 compatibility mode is provided as a convenience in migrating to the Schema 2 Native mode. Do not use Schema 2 compatibility mode as your final schema choice. The migration process from Schema 1 to Schema 2 compatibility mode and then finally to Schema 2 native mode is more complex that simply migrating from Schema 1 to Schema 2 native mode. See the Sun Java System Communications Services 6 2005Q4 Schema Migration Guide for more information.