.SH DESCRIPTION
The \fBbdb\fP backend to
.BR slapd (8)
-is the recommended backend for a normal
+is the recommended primary backend for a normal
.B slapd
database.
-However, it takes more care than with the LDBM backend to configure
-it properly.
It uses the Sleepycat Berkeley DB (BDB) package to store data.
It makes extensive use of indexing and caching to speed data access.
.LP
.SH DESCRIPTION
The LDBM backend to
.BR slapd (8)
-is the database backend which is easiest to configure.
-However, it does not offer the data durability features of the BDB
-backend.
-It uses Berkeley DB or GDBM to store data.
-It makes extensive use of indexing and caching to speed data access.
+is an easy\-to\-configure but obsolete database backend. It does not
+offer the data durability features of the BDB and HDB backends and
+hence is considered deprecated in favor of these robust backends.
+LDBM uses lightweight non\-transactional data interfaces, such as those
+provided by GDBM or Berkeley DB, to store data. It makes extensive
+use of indexing and caching to speed data access.
.SH CONFIGURATION
These
.B slapd.conf
.SH OPERATION REQUIREMENTS
Operations require different privileges on different portions of entries.
The following summary applies to primary database backends such as
-the LDBM, BDB, and HDB backends. Requirements for other backends may
+the BDB and HDB backends. Requirements for other backends may
(and often do) differ.
.LP
The
and for the discovery phase of the search operation,
full ACL semantics is only supported by the primary backends, i.e.
.BR back-bdb (5),
-.BR back-hdb (5),
and
-.BR back-ldbm (5).
+.BR back-hdb (5).
Some other backend, like
.BR back-sql (5),
manual pages.
.TP
.B bdb
-This is the recommended backend for a normal slapd database.
-However, it takes more care than with the LDBM backend to configure
-it properly.
-It uses the Sleepycat Berkeley DB (BDB) package to store data.
+This is the recommended primary backend for a normal slapd database.
+It takes care to configure it properly.
+It uses the transactional database interface of the Sleepycat Berkeley
+DB (BDB) package to store data.
.TP
.B config
This backend is used to manage the configuration of slapd run-time.
LDAP server.
.TP
.B ldbm
-This is the database backend which is easiest to configure.
-However, it does not offer the data durability features of the BDB
-backend.
-It uses Berkeley DB or GDBM to store data.
+This is an easy-to-configure but obsolete database backend. It
+does not offer the data durability features of the BDB and HDB
+backends and hence is deprecated in favor of these robust backends.
+LDBM uses lightweight non-transactional DB interfaces,
+such as those providing by GDBM or Berkeley DB, to store data.
.TP
.B ldif
This database uses the filesystem to build the tree structure