Plug-In Types

The directory server supports several kinds of plug-ins, including:

Pre-parse plug-ins

Can be used to alter the contents of a request before the directory server begins to process it.

Pre-operation plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately before the directory server performs the core action associated with that operation (for example, before an updated entry is stored in the back end for a modify operation).

Post-operation plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately after the directory server performs the core action associated with that operation but before the response is sent to the client.

Post-response plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required for an operation that does not need to occur before the response is sent to the client.

Search result entry plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately before the directory server sends a search result entry to a client (including altering the contents of the entry or preventing it from being sent).

Search result reference plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately before the directory server sends a search reference (that is, a referral) to a client (including altering the contents of the referral or preventing it from being sent).

Intermediate response plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately before the directory server sends an intermediate response to a client (including altering the contents of the intermediate response or preventing it from being sent).

Post-connect plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately after the directory server accepts a new connection from a client (including terminating that connection).

Post-disconnect plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required immediately after a client connection is closed for some reason (regardless of whether the closure was initiated by the client or the directory server).

Startup plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required when the directory server is in the process of being started.

Shutdown plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required when the directory server is in the process of performing a graceful shutdown.

LDIF import plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required for any entries read during the LDIF import process (including altering the contents of the entry or preventing it from being imported).

LDIF export plug-ins

Can be used to perform any processing that might be required for any entries to be written during the LDIF export process (including altering the contents of the entry or preventing it from being exported).

A plug-in can have multiple plug-in types, and multiple plug-ins with a given plug-in type can be defined in the directory server. If multiple plug-ins are defined with the same plug-in type, the order in which they are invoked during processing is undefined by default. If you require the plug-ins to be invoked in a specific order (for example, if the processing performed by one plug-in depends on the result of another), you can specify the order in which the plug-ins are invoked. For more information, see Modifying the Plug-In Configuration in Sun OpenDS Standard Edition 2.0 Administration Guide.