About this Reference Guide


iPlanet Directory Server 5.0 is a powerful and scalable distributed directory server based on the industry-standard Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). iPlanet Directory Server is the cornerstone for building a centralized and distributed data repository that can be used in your intranet, over your extranet with your trading partners, or over the public Internet to reach your customers.

This Configuration, Command, and File Reference documents server configuration and command-line utilities provided with the iPlanet Directory Server.

iPlanet Directory Server 5.0 Overview

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iPlanet Directory Server 5.0 provides the following key features:

• Multi-master replication—Provides a highly available directory service for both read and write operations. Multi-master replication can be combined with simple and cascading replication scenarios to provide a highly flexible and scalable replication environment.

• Chaining and referrals—Increases the power of your directory by storing a complete logical view of your directory on a single server while maintaining data on a large number of directory servers, transparently for clients.

• Roles and Class of Service—Provides a flexible mechanism for grouping and sharing attributes between entries in a dynamic fashion.

• Improved access control mechanism—Provides support for macros that dramatically reduce the number of access control statements used in the directory, and increase the speed of access control evaluation.

• Resource-limits by bind DN—Gives you the power to control the amount of server resources allocated to search operations based on the bind DN of the client.

• Multiple databases—Provides a simple way of breaking down your directory data to simplify the implementation of replication and chaining in your directory service.

• Password Policy and Account Lockout—Allows you to define a set of rules that govern how passwords and user accounts are managed in Directory Server.

• SSL—Provides secure communications over the network including ciphers with up to 168-bit encryption.

The major components of iPlanet Directory Server 5.0 include:

• An LDAP server—The core of the directory service, provided by the slapd daemon, and compliant with the LDAP v3 Internet standards.

• Directory Server Console—An improved management console that dramatically reduces the effort of setting up and maintaining your directory service. Directory Server Console is part of iPlanet Console, the common management framework for iPlanet servers.

• Directory Server Gateway—A customizable HTTP to LDAP client that allows you to access directory data from a web browser.

• iPlanet Directory Express—A simple directory lookup tool that you can use right out of the box.

• SNMP Agent—Permits you to monitor Directory Server in real time using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

• Online backup and restore—Allows you to create backups and restore from backups while the server is running.

Prerequisite Reading

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This reference guide does not describe many of the basic directory and architectural concepts that you need to successfully design, implement, and administer your directory service. Those concepts are described in the iPlanet Directory Server Administrator's Guide. You should read that book before continuing with this reference guide.

When you are familiar with directory server concepts and have done some preliminary planning for your directory service, you can install the iPlanet Directory Server. The instructions for installing the various Directory Server components are contained in the iPlanet Directory Server Installation Guide.

Managing Servers with iPlanet Console contains general background information on how to use iPlanet servers. You should read and understand the concepts in that book before you attempt to administer the Directory Server.

What Is In This Reference Guide?

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This book is a reference guide for the server configuration and the command-line utilities. It is designed primarily for directory administrators and experienced directory users who want to use the command line to access the directory. After configuring your server, use this reference guide to help you maintain it.

You can also manage the Directory Server using the Directory Server Console, a graphical user interface. The iPlanet Directory Server Administrator's Guide describes how to do this and explains individual administration tasks more fully.

Conventions Used In This Reference Guide

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This section explains the conventions used in this book.

Monospaced font—This typeface is used for any text that appears on the computer screen or text that you should type. It is also used for filenames, functions, and examples.

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Note	Notes and Warnings mark important information. Make sure you read the information before continuing with a task.

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If you are using a Windows NT-based directory server, you should assume the NT equivalent file paths whenever UNIX file paths are shown in this book.

All paths assume that the Directory Server is installed in the default location /usr/iPlanet/server5. If you have installed your Directory Server in a different location, adapt all paths specified in this book accordingly.

Related Information

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The document set for iPlanet Directory Server also contains the following guides:

iPlanet Directory Server Installation Guide. Procedures for installing Directory Server as well as procedures for migrating your Netscape Directory Server to iPlanet Directory Server.

iPlanet Directory Server Administrator's Guide. Procedures for the day-to-day maintenance of your directory service. Includes information on configuring server-side plug-ins.

iPlanet Schema Reference. Information about all the schema used in the iPlanet suite of products.

Other useful iPlanet information can be found at the following Internet locations:

• iPlanet release notes and other documentation: http://docs.iplanet.com/docs/manuals/

• iPlanet product status: http://www.iplanet.com/support/technical_resources/

• iPlanet Professional Services information:
  http://www.iplanet.com/services

• iPlanet developer information:
  http://developer.iplanet.com/

• iPlanet learning solutions:
  http://www.iplanet.com/learning/index.html

• iPlanet product data sheets:
  http://www.iplanet.com/products/index.html