Chapter 2.3Core Server Configuration ReferenceThe configuration information for Red Hat Directory Server is stored as LDAP entries within thedirectory itself. Therefore, changes to the server configuration must be implemented through theuse of the server itself rather than by simply editing configuration files. The principal advantageof this method of configuration storage is that it allows a directory administrator to reconfigure theserver using LDAP while it is still running, thus avoiding the need to shut the server down for mostconfiguration changes.This chapter gives details on how the configuration is organized and how to alter it. The chapter alsoprovides an alphabetical reference for all attributes.2.1. Overview of the Directory Server ConfigurationWhen the Directory Server is set up, its default configuration is stored as a series of LDAP entrieswithin the directory, under the subtree cn=config. When the server is started, the contents of thecn=config subtree are read from a file (dse.ldif) in LDIF format. This dse.ldif file containsall of the server configuration information. The latest version of this file is called dse.ldif, theversion prior to the last modification is called dse.ldif.bak, and the latest file with which the serversuccessfully started is called dse.ldif.startOK.Many of the features of the Directory Server are designed as discrete modules that plug into the coreserver. The details of the internal configuration for each plug-in are contained in separate entriesunder cn=plugins,cn=config. For example, the configuration of the Telephone Syntax Plug-in iscontained in this entry:cn=Telephone Syntax,cn=plugins,cn=configSimilarly, database-specific configuration is stored undercn=ldbm database,cn=plugins,cn=config for local databases and cn=chainingdatabase,cn=plugins,cn=config for database links.The following diagram illustrates how the configuration data fits within the cn=config directoryinformation tree.Figure 2.1. Directory Information Tree Showing Configuration Data2.1.1. LDIF and Schema Configuration FilesThe Directory Server configuration data are stored in LDIF files in the /etc/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name directory (/etc/opt/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name on HP-UX). Thus,
