Netscape NETSCAPE DIRECTORY SERVER 6.1 - ADMINISTRATOR, Administrator'S Manual

Page: 507 / 578

Defining Directories Using LDIF
Appendix A LDAP Data Interchange Format 507
Defining Directories Using LDIF
You can define the contents of an entire directory using LDIF. Using LDIF is an
efficient method of directory creation when you have many entries to add to the
directory.
Table A-4
LDIF Elements in Person Entries
LDIF Element Description
dn: distinguished_name Specifies the distinguished name for the entry. A DN is
required. If there is a comma in the DN, the comma must be
escaped with a backslash (\). For example,
dn:uid=bjensen,ou=people,o=example.com
Bolivia\,S.A.
objectClass: top Required. Specifies the
top
object class.
objectClass: person Specifies the
person
object class. This object class
specification should be included because many LDAP
clients require it during search operations for a person or an
organizational person.
objectClass:
organizationalPerson Specifies the
organizationalPerson
object class. This
object class specification should be included because some
LDAP clients require it during search operations for an
organizational person.
objectClass: inetOrgPerson Specifies the
inetOrgPerson
object class. The
inetOrgPerson
object class is recommended for the
creation of an organizational person entry because this
object class includes the widest range of attributes. The
uid
attribute is required by this object class, and entries that
contain this object class are named based on the value of the
uid
attribute. See the Netscape Directory Server Schema
Reference for a list of the attributes you can use with this
object class.
cn: common_name Specifies the person’s common name which is the full name
commonly used by the person. For example,
cn: Bill
Anderson
. At least one common name is required.
sn: surname Specifies the person’s surname, or last name. For example,
sn: Anderson
. A surname is required.
list_of_attributes Specifies the list of optional attributes that you maintain for
the entry. See the Netscape Directory Server Schema Reference
for a list of the attributes you can use with this object class.