Types of Information

You must define the kind of information that you want to store in the directory. The schema must include the object classes and attributes required to store your information. If the default schema does not cover all your needs, refer to "Modifying the Schema" for details on how to create the object classes and attributes that you need.

The default schema will allow you to store information on resources such as:

• Users

• Remote RADIUS users

• Devices (hosts, printers, Network Access Servers)

• NIS naming service

• Java objects

• Document references

For a complete list of the type of objects you can create in the directory with the default schema, refer to "Object Class Reference".

When you are looking for an object class that matches the characteristics of a resource you want to describe in a directory entry, you must make sure that:

• The object class offers or inherits all the attributes you need to describe your resource

• You can assign a value to all the mandatory attributes offered or inherited by that object class

For example, XYZ Corporation has a proprietary on-line directory that provides the following information about every employee:

• Name (first name, last name)

• E-mail address

• Telephone number

• Job function

In the default schema, the object class that allows you to store all these attributes for a person is inetOrgPerson. This object class contains the optional mail attribute for storing an e-mail address. It inherits from the organizationalPerson and Person object classes. These object classes provide the necessary attributes for storing employees' names, telephone numbers and job functions.