2 # Copyright 1999-2012 The OpenLDAP Foundation, All Rights Reserved.
3 # COPYING RESTRICTIONS APPLY, see COPYRIGHT.
4 H1: The Big Picture - Configuration Choices
6 This section gives a brief overview of various {{TERM:LDAP}} directory
7 configurations, and how your Standalone LDAP Daemon {{slapd}}(8)
8 fits in with the rest of the world.
11 H2: Local Directory Service
13 In this configuration, you run a {{slapd}}(8) instance which provides
14 directory service for your local domain only. It does not interact
15 with other directory servers in any way. This configuration is shown
18 !import "config_local.png"; align="center"; title="Local service via slapd(8) configuration"
19 FT[align="Center"] Figure 3.1: Local service configuration.
21 Use this configuration if you are just starting out (it's the one the
22 quick-start guide makes for you) or if you want to provide a local
23 service and are not interested in connecting to the rest of the world.
24 It's easy to upgrade to another configuration later if you want.
27 H2: Local Directory Service with Referrals
29 In this configuration, you run a {{slapd}}(8) instance which provides
30 directory service for your local domain and configure it to return
31 referrals to other servers capable of handling requests. You may
32 run this service (or services) yourself or use one provided to you.
33 This configuration is shown in Figure 3.2.
35 !import "config_ref.png"; align="center"; title="Local service with referrals"
36 FT[align="Center"] Figure 3.2: Local service with referrals
38 Use this configuration if you want to provide local service and
39 participate in the Global Directory, or you want to delegate
40 responsibility for {{subordinate}} entries to another server.
43 H2: Replicated Directory Service
45 slapd(8) includes support for {{LDAP Sync}}-based replication, called
46 {{syncrepl}}, which may be used to maintain shadow copies of directory
47 information on multiple directory servers. In its most basic
48 configuration, the {{master}} is a syncrepl provider and one or more
49 {{slave}} (or {{shadow}}) are syncrepl consumers. An example
50 master-slave configuration is shown in figure 3.3. Multi-Master
51 configurations are also supported.
53 !import "config_repl.png"; align="center"; title="Replicated Directory Services"
54 FT[align="Center"] Figure 3.3: Replicated Directory Services
56 This configuration can be used in conjunction with either of the
57 first two configurations in situations where a single {{slapd}}(8)
58 instance does not provide the required reliability or availability.
60 H2: Distributed Local Directory Service
62 In this configuration, the local service is partitioned into smaller
63 services, each of which may be replicated, and {{glued}} together with
64 {{superior}} and {{subordinate}} referrals.
66 An example of this configuration is shown in Figure 3.4.
68 !import "config_dist.gif"; align="center"; title="Distributed Local Directory Services"
69 FT[align="Center"] Figure 3.4: Distributed Local Directory Services