Chapter 2. Planning the Directory Data10Using the Directory Server for more than just server administration requires planning what other typesof information to store in the directory. For example:• Contract or client account details• Payroll data• Physical device information• Home contact information• Office contact information for the various sites within the enterprise2.1.2. Information to Exclude from the DirectoryRed Hat Directory Server is excellent for managing large quantities of data that client applicationsread and write, but it is not designed to handle large, unstructured objects, such as images or othermedia. These objects should be maintained in a file system. However, the directory can store pointersto these kinds of applications by using pointer URLs to FTP, HTTP, and other sites.2.2. Defining Directory NeedsWhen designing the directory data, think not only of the data that is currently required but also how thedirectory (and organization) is going to change over time. Considering the future needs of the directoryduring the design process influences how the data in the directory are structured and distributed.Look at these points:• What should be put in the directory today?• What immediate problem is solved by deploying a directory?• What are the immediate needs of the directory-enabled application being used?• What information is going to be added to the directory in the near future? For example, an enterprisemight use an accounting package that does not currently support LDAP but will be LDAP-enabled ina few months. Identify the data used by LDAP-compatible applications, and plan for the migration ofthe data into the directory as the technology becomes available.• What information might be stored in the directory in the future? For example, a hosting companymay have future customers with different data requirements than their current customers, such asneeding to store images or media files. While this is the hardest answer to anticipate, doing so maypay off in unexpected ways. At a minimum, this kind of planning helps identify data sources thatmight not otherwise have been considered.2.3. Performing a Site SurveyA site survey is a formal method for discovering and characterizing the contents of the directory.Budget plenty of time for performing a site survey, as preparation is the key to the directoryarchitecture. The site survey consists of a number of tasks:• Identify the applications that use the directory.Determine the directory-enabled applications deployed across the enterprise and their data needs.
