Data Storage in Directory Server

Directory Server manages at least one binary tree database to hold directory data. By default, database files are stored under instance-path/db/. In general, do not change or move these files.

If you examine the content of the instance-path/db/ directory, you find database log files. You also find subdirectories for each database managed by the server. For instance, instance-path/db/example/ holds data for the directory entries under dc=example,dc=com. When you examine the files, you find a number of database indexes, such as example_sn.db3 for surname attribute values. You also find a example_id2entry.db3 file containing directory entry information. You can configure Directory Server to encrypt the information in these files if necessary.

From the point of view of client applications, Directory Server presents the directory data stored as directory entries arranged in the directory information tree. Directory Server uses the attribute value indexes to retrieve entries quickly. You can configure which indexes Directory Server maintains.

For instructions on backing up directory data, see Chapter 8, Directory Server Backup and Restore, in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.1 Administration Guide. For instructions on configuring indexes, see Chapter 12, Directory Server Indexing, in Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition 6.1 Administration Guide. You can also back up directory data and configure indexes using Directory Service Control Center.