From: Howard Chu <hyc@openldap.org>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 13:23:05 +0000 (+0000)
Subject: Moved AttributeDescription caching into main code:
X-Git-Tag: LDBM_PRE_GIANT_RWLOCK~953
X-Git-Url: https://git.sur5r.net/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=0e16f6acf9efe4a3dd2b413418213431ec86c33d;p=openldap

Moved AttributeDescription caching into main code:
   Changed AttributeDescription.{ad_cname,ad_lang} to struct berval everywhere
   Deleted ad_free() everywhere
   Added ad_mutex to init.c

The AttributeDescriptions are in a linked list hanging off of the
corresponding AttributeType.
---

diff --git a/servers/slapd/acl.c b/servers/slapd/acl.c
index 9ae0246de2..9dbe23de9e 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/acl.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/acl.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ access_allowed(
 	assert( desc != NULL );
 	assert( access > ACL_NONE );
 
-	attr = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	attr = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	assert( attr != NULL );
 
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ acl_get(
 	assert( count != NULL );
 	assert( desc != NULL );
 
-	attr = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	attr = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	assert( attr != NULL );
 
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ acl_mask(
 	assert( mask != NULL );
 	assert( desc != NULL );
 
-	attr = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	attr = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	assert( attr != NULL );
 
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ acl_mask(
 			struct berval	bv;
 			int rc, match = 0;
 			const char *text;
-			const char *attr = b->a_dn_at->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			const char *attr = b->a_dn_at->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 			assert( attr != NULL );
 
@@ -1081,11 +1081,11 @@ acl_check_modlist(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 			LDAP_LOG(( "aci", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
 				   "acl_check_modlist: conn %d  no-user-mod %s: modify access granted\n",
-				   conn->c_connid, mlist->sml_desc->ad_cname->bv_val ));
+				   conn->c_connid, mlist->sml_desc->ad_cname.bv_val ));
 #else
 			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ACL, "acl: no-user-mod %s:"
 				" modify access granted\n",
-				mlist->sml_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0, 0 );
+				mlist->sml_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0, 0 );
 #endif
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1236,7 +1236,6 @@ aci_set_gather (void *cookie, char *name, char *attr)
 					}
 					ber_bvecfree(bvals);
 				}
-				ad_free(desc, 1);
 			}
 		}
 		ch_free(ndn);
@@ -1294,7 +1293,6 @@ aci_match_set (
 			{
 				backend_attribute(be, NULL, NULL, e,
 								subjdn, desc, &bvals);
-				ad_free(desc, 1);
 				if ( bvals != NULL ) {
 					if ( bvals[0] != NULL )
 						set = ch_strdup(bvals[0]->bv_val);
@@ -1533,7 +1531,6 @@ aci_group_member (
 	}
 
 done:
-	if( grp_ad != NULL ) ad_free( grp_ad, 1 );
 	ch_free(grpdn);
 	ch_free(grpat);
 	ch_free(grpoc);
@@ -1558,7 +1555,7 @@ aci_mask(
     struct berval bv, perms, sdn;
     char *subjdn;
 	int rc;
-	char *attr = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	char *attr = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	assert( attr != NULL );
 
@@ -1645,7 +1642,6 @@ aci_mask(
 			}
 		}
 
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
 		return rc;
 
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/aclparse.c b/servers/slapd/aclparse.c
index a7df30bd8e..c18f36e27f 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/aclparse.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/aclparse.c
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ parse_acl(
 							fprintf( stderr,
 								"%s: line %d: group: \"%s\" not allowed by \"%s\"\n",
 								fname, lineno,
-								b->a_group_at->ad_cname->bv_val,
+								b->a_group_at->ad_cname.bv_val,
 								b->a_group_oc->soc_oid );
 							acl_usage();
 						}
@@ -1200,7 +1200,7 @@ print_access( Access *b )
 	}
 
 	if ( b->a_dn_at != NULL ) {
-		fprintf( stderr, " dnattr=%s", b->a_dn_at->ad_cname->bv_val );
+		fprintf( stderr, " dnattr=%s", b->a_dn_at->ad_cname.bv_val );
 	}
 
 	if ( b->a_group_pat != NULL ) {
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ print_access( Access *b )
 				b->a_group_oc->soc_oclass.oc_oid );
 
 			if ( b->a_group_at ) {
-				fprintf( stderr, " attributeType: %s", b->a_group_at->ad_cname->bv_val );
+				fprintf( stderr, " attributeType: %s", b->a_group_at->ad_cname.bv_val );
 			}
 		}
     }
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ print_access( Access *b )
 
 #ifdef SLAPD_ACI_ENABLED
 	if ( b->a_aci_at != NULL ) {
-		fprintf( stderr, " aci=%s", b->a_aci_at->ad_cname->bv_val );
+		fprintf( stderr, " aci=%s", b->a_aci_at->ad_cname.bv_val );
 	}
 #endif
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/ad.c b/servers/slapd/ad.c
index e2a028c90d..7ea0734aab 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/ad.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/ad.c
@@ -18,43 +18,7 @@
 #include "ldap_pvt.h"
 #include "slap.h"
 
-AttributeDescription *ad_dup(
-	AttributeDescription *desc )
-{
-	AttributeDescription *ad;
-
-	if( desc == NULL ) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	ad = (AttributeDescription *) ch_malloc( sizeof(AttributeDescription) );
-
-	*ad = *desc;
-
-	if( ad->ad_cname != NULL ) {
-		ad->ad_cname = ber_bvdup( ad->ad_cname );
-	}
-
-	if( ad->ad_lang != NULL ) {
-		ad->ad_lang = ch_strdup( ad->ad_lang );
-	}
-
-	return ad;
-}
-
-void
-ad_free( AttributeDescription *ad, int freeit )
-{
-	if( ad == NULL ) return;
-
-	if( ad->ad_cname != NULL ) {
-		ber_bvfree( ad->ad_cname );
-	}
-
-	free( ad->ad_lang );
-
-	if( freeit ) free( ad );
-}
+extern ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t	ad_mutex;	/* init.c */
 
 static int ad_keystring(
 	struct berval *bv )
@@ -92,8 +56,8 @@ int slap_bv2ad(
 {
 	int rtn = LDAP_UNDEFINED_TYPE;
 	int i;
-	AttributeDescription desc;
-	char **tokens;
+	AttributeDescription desc, *d2;
+	char *name, *options;
 
 	assert( ad != NULL );
 	assert( *ad == NULL ); /* temporary */
@@ -109,25 +73,37 @@ int slap_bv2ad(
 		return rtn;
 	}
 
-	tokens = str2charray( bv->bv_val, ";");
-
-	if( tokens == NULL || *tokens == NULL ) {
-		*text = "no attribute type";
-		goto done;
-	}
-
-	desc.ad_type = at_find( *tokens );
-
+	/* find valid base attribute type; parse in place */
+	name = bv->bv_val;
+	options = strchr(name, ';');
+	if (options != NULL) *options = '\0';
+	desc.ad_type = at_find( name );
+	if (options != NULL) *options = ';';
 	if( desc.ad_type == NULL ) {
 		*text = "attribute type undefined";
-		goto done;
+
+		return rtn;
 	}
 
-	desc.ad_flags = SLAP_DESC_NONE;
-	desc.ad_lang = NULL;
+	if (options != NULL)
+		desc.ad_cname.bv_len = options - name;
+	else
+		desc.ad_cname.bv_len = strlen(name);
 
-	for( i=1; tokens[i] != NULL; i++ ) {
-		if( strcasecmp( tokens[i], "binary" ) == 0 ) {
+	desc.ad_flags = SLAP_DESC_NONE;
+	desc.ad_lang.bv_len = 0;
+	desc.ad_lang.bv_val = NULL;
+
+	/* parse options in place */
+	for( ; options != NULL; ) {
+		name = options+1;
+		options = strchr( name, ';' );
+		if ( options != NULL )
+			i = options - name;
+		else
+			i = strlen(name);
+
+		if( i == sizeof("binary")-1 && strncasecmp( name, "binary", i) == 0 ) {
 			if( slap_ad_is_binary( &desc ) ) {
 				*text = "option \"binary\" specified multiple times";
 				goto done;
@@ -141,57 +117,126 @@ int slap_bv2ad(
 
 			desc.ad_flags |= SLAP_DESC_BINARY;
 
-		} else if ( strncasecmp( tokens[i], "lang-",
-			sizeof("lang-")-1 ) == 0 && tokens[i][sizeof("lang-")-1] )
+		} else if ( i >= sizeof("lang-") && strncasecmp( name, "lang-",
+			sizeof("lang-")-1 ) == 0)
 		{
-			if( desc.ad_lang != NULL ) {
+			if( desc.ad_lang.bv_len != 0 ) {
 				*text = "multiple language tag options specified";
 				goto done;
 			}
 
-			desc.ad_lang = ch_strdup( tokens[i] );
-
-			/* normalize to all lower case, it's easy */
-			ldap_pvt_str2lower( desc.ad_lang );
-
+			desc.ad_lang.bv_val = name;
+			desc.ad_lang.bv_len = i;
 		} else {
 			*text = "unrecognized option";
 			goto done;
 		}
 	}
 
-	desc.ad_cname = ch_malloc( sizeof( struct berval ) );
-
-	desc.ad_cname->bv_len = strlen( desc.ad_type->sat_cname );
-	if( slap_ad_is_binary( &desc ) ) {
-		desc.ad_cname->bv_len += sizeof("binary");
-	}
-	if( desc.ad_lang != NULL ) {
-		desc.ad_cname->bv_len += 1 + strlen( desc.ad_lang );
+	/* see if a matching description is already cached */
+	for (d2 = desc.ad_type->sat_ad; d2; d2=d2->ad_next) {
+		if (d2->ad_flags != desc.ad_flags)
+			continue;
+		if (d2->ad_lang.bv_len != desc.ad_lang.bv_len)
+			continue;
+		if (d2->ad_lang.bv_len == 0)
+			break;
+		if (strncasecmp(d2->ad_lang.bv_val, desc.ad_lang.bv_val,
+			desc.ad_lang.bv_len) == 0)
+			break;
 	}
 
-	desc.ad_cname->bv_val = ch_malloc( desc.ad_cname->bv_len + 1 );
+	/* Not found, add new one */
+	while (d2 == NULL) {
+		int dlen = 0;
+		/* uses a single mutex instead of one per attributetype.
+		 * I don't believe this is a significant bottleneck. If
+		 * necessary, could change to a per-AttrType rwlock.
+		 */
+		ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_lock( &ad_mutex );
+		/* Check again just in case another thread added it */
+		for (d2 = desc.ad_type->sat_ad; d2; d2=d2->ad_next) {
+			if (d2->ad_flags != desc.ad_flags)
+				continue;
+			if (d2->ad_lang.bv_len != desc.ad_lang.bv_len)
+				continue;
+			if (d2->ad_lang.bv_len == 0)
+				break;
+			if (strncasecmp(d2->ad_lang.bv_val,desc.ad_lang.bv_val,
+				desc.ad_lang.bv_len) == 0)
+				break;
+		}
+		/* Some other thread added it before we got the lock. */
+		if (d2 != NULL) {
+			ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &ad_mutex );
+			break;
+		}
 
-	strcpy( desc.ad_cname->bv_val, desc.ad_type->sat_cname );
-	if( slap_ad_is_binary( &desc ) ) {
-		strcat( desc.ad_cname->bv_val, ";binary" );
-	}
+		/* Allocate a single contiguous block. If there are no
+		 * options, we just need space for the AttrDesc structure.
+		 * Otherwise, we need to tack on the full name length +
+		 * options length.
+		 */
+		i = sizeof(AttributeDescription);
+		if (desc.ad_lang.bv_len || desc.ad_flags != SLAP_DESC_NONE) {
+			if (desc.ad_lang.bv_len)
+				dlen = desc.ad_lang.bv_len+1;
+			dlen += strlen(desc.ad_type->sat_cname)+1;
+			if( slap_ad_is_binary( &desc ) ) {
+				dlen += sizeof("binary");
+			}
+		}
 
-	if( desc.ad_lang != NULL ) {
-		strcat( desc.ad_cname->bv_val, ";" );
-		strcat( desc.ad_cname->bv_val, desc.ad_lang );
+		d2 = ch_malloc(i + dlen);
+		d2->ad_type = desc.ad_type;
+		d2->ad_flags = desc.ad_flags;
+		d2->ad_cname.bv_len = desc.ad_cname.bv_len;
+		d2->ad_lang.bv_len = desc.ad_lang.bv_len;
+		if (dlen == 0) {
+			d2->ad_cname.bv_val = d2->ad_type->sat_cname;
+			d2->ad_lang.bv_val = NULL;
+		} else {
+			d2->ad_cname.bv_val = (char *)(d2+1);
+			strcpy(d2->ad_cname.bv_val, d2->ad_type->sat_cname);
+			if( slap_ad_is_binary( &desc ) ) {
+				strcpy(d2->ad_cname.bv_val+d2->ad_cname.bv_len,
+					";binary");
+				d2->ad_cname.bv_len += sizeof("binary");
+			}
+			if( d2->ad_lang.bv_len ) {
+				d2->ad_cname.bv_val[d2->ad_cname.bv_len++]=';';
+				d2->ad_lang.bv_val = d2->ad_cname.bv_val+
+					d2->ad_cname.bv_len;
+				strncpy(d2->ad_lang.bv_val,desc.ad_lang.bv_val,
+					d2->ad_lang.bv_len);
+				d2->ad_lang.bv_val[d2->ad_lang.bv_len] = '\0';
+				ldap_pvt_str2lower(d2->ad_lang.bv_val);
+				d2->ad_cname.bv_len += d2->ad_lang.bv_len;
+			}
+		}
+		/* Add new desc to list. We always want the bare Desc with
+		 * no options to stay at the head of the list, assuming
+		 * that one will be used most frequently.
+		 */
+		if (desc.ad_type->sat_ad == NULL || dlen == 0) {
+			d2->ad_next = desc.ad_type->sat_ad;
+			desc.ad_type->sat_ad = d2;
+		} else {
+			d2->ad_next = desc.ad_type->sat_ad->ad_next;
+			desc.ad_type->sat_ad->ad_next = d2;
+		}
+		ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_unlock( &ad_mutex );
 	}
 
 	if( *ad == NULL ) {
-		*ad = ch_malloc( sizeof( AttributeDescription ) );
+		*ad = d2;
+	} else {
+		**ad = *d2;
 	}
 
-	**ad = desc;
-
 	rtn = LDAP_SUCCESS;
 
 done:
-	charray_free( tokens );
 	return rtn;
 }
 
@@ -208,8 +253,9 @@ int is_ad_subtype(
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if( super->ad_lang != NULL && ( sub->ad_lang == NULL
-		|| strcasecmp( super->ad_lang, sub->ad_lang )))
+	if( super->ad_lang.bv_len && (sub->ad_lang.bv_len !=
+		super->ad_lang.bv_len || strcmp( super->ad_lang.bv_val,
+		sub->ad_lang.bv_val)))
 	{
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -234,8 +280,6 @@ int ad_inlist(
 
 		rc = is_ad_subtype( desc, ad );
 
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
-
 		if( rc ) return 1;
 	}
 
@@ -260,10 +304,9 @@ int slap_bv2undef_ad(
 	AttributeDescription **ad,
 	const char **text )
 {
-	AttributeDescription desc;
+	AttributeDescription *desc;
 
 	assert( ad != NULL );
-	assert( *ad == NULL ); /* temporary */
 
 	if( bv == NULL || bv->bv_len == 0 ) {
 		*text = "empty attribute description";
@@ -276,21 +319,36 @@ int slap_bv2undef_ad(
 		return LDAP_UNDEFINED_TYPE;
 	}
 
-	desc.ad_type = slap_schema.si_at_undefined;
-	desc.ad_flags = SLAP_DESC_NONE;
-	desc.ad_lang = NULL;
+	for (desc = slap_schema.si_at_undefined->sat_ad; desc;
+		desc=desc->ad_next)
+		if (desc->ad_cname.bv_len == bv->bv_len &&
+		    !strcasecmp(desc->ad_cname.bv_val, bv->bv_val))
+		    	break;
+	
+	if (!desc) {
+		desc = ch_malloc(sizeof(AttributeDescription) +
+			bv->bv_len + 1);
+		
+		desc->ad_flags = SLAP_DESC_NONE;
+		desc->ad_lang.bv_val = NULL;
+		desc->ad_lang.bv_len = 0;
 
-	desc.ad_cname = ber_bvdup( bv );
+		desc->ad_cname.bv_len = bv->bv_len;
+		desc->ad_cname.bv_val = (char *)(desc+1);
+		strcpy(desc->ad_cname.bv_val, bv->bv_val);
 
-	/* canoncial to upper case */
-	ldap_pvt_str2upper( bv->bv_val );
+		/* canonical to upper case */
+		ldap_pvt_str2upper( desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 
-	if( *ad == NULL ) {
-		*ad = ch_malloc( sizeof( AttributeDescription ) );
+		desc->ad_type = slap_schema.si_at_undefined;
+		desc->ad_next = desc->ad_type->sat_ad;
+		desc->ad_type->sat_ad = desc;
 	}
 
-	**ad = desc;
+	if (!*ad)
+		*ad = desc;
+	else
+		**ad = *desc;
 
 	return LDAP_SUCCESS;
 }
-
diff --git a/servers/slapd/attr.c b/servers/slapd/attr.c
index 9239e161f8..d5b9e3a078 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/attr.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/attr.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ static void at_index_print( void );
 void
 attr_free( Attribute *a )
 {
-	ad_free( a->a_desc, 1 );
 	ber_bvecfree( a->a_vals );
 	free( a );
 }
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ Attribute *attr_dup( Attribute *a )
 		tmp->a_vals = NULL;
 	}
 
-	tmp->a_desc = ad_dup( a->a_desc );
+	tmp->a_desc = a->a_desc;
 	tmp->a_next = NULL;
 
 	return tmp;
@@ -124,7 +123,7 @@ attr_merge(
 
 	if ( *a == NULL ) {
 		*a = (Attribute *) ch_malloc( sizeof(Attribute) );
-		(*a)->a_desc = ad_dup( desc );
+		(*a)->a_desc = desc;
 		(*a)->a_vals = NULL;
 		(*a)->a_next = NULL;
 	}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/ava.c b/servers/slapd/ava.c
index 69157a954a..da6a2e3355 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/ava.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/ava.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ ava_free(
     int	freeit
 )
 {
-	ad_free( ava->aa_desc, 1 );
 	ber_bvfree( ava->aa_value );
 	if ( freeit ) {
 		ch_free( (char *) ava );
@@ -70,7 +69,6 @@ get_ava(
 	ch_free( value.bv_val );
 
 	if( rc != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
-		ad_free( aa->aa_desc, 1 );
 		ch_free( aa );
 		return rc;
 	}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/attr.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/attr.c
index 66c77242cd..dd1fe3b851 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/attr.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/attr.c
@@ -203,18 +203,17 @@ bdb_attr_index_config(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 		LDAP_LOG(( "backend", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
 			   "attr_index_config: index %s 0x%04x\n",
-			   ad->ad_cname->bv_val, mask ));
+			   ad->ad_cname.bv_val, mask ));
 #else
 		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG, "index %s 0x%04x\n",
-			ad->ad_cname->bv_val, mask, 0 ); 
+			ad->ad_cname.bv_val, mask, 0 ); 
 #endif
 
 
 #ifdef SLAPD_USE_AD
 		a->ai_desc = ad;
 #else
-		a->ai_desc = ch_strdup( ad->ad_cname->bv_val );
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
+		a->ai_desc = ch_strdup( ad->ad_cname.bv_val );
 #endif
 
 		a->ai_indexmask = mask;
@@ -242,9 +241,7 @@ static void
 ainfo_free( void *attr )
 {
 	AttrInfo *ai = attr;
-#ifdef SLAPD_USE_AD
-	ad_free( ai->ai_desc, 1 );
-#else
+#ifndef SLAPD_USE_AD
 	free( ai->ai_desc );
 #endif
 	free( ai );
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c
index 538249eb34..8c02c77b3c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ ad_type_cmp(
 	AttributeDescription *ad
 )
 {
-	return strcasecmp(desc, ad->ad_cname->bv_val);
+	return strcasecmp(desc, ad->ad_cname.bv_val);
 }
 
 static int
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ad_info_cmp(
 	AttributeDescription *a2
 )
 {
-	return strcasecmp(a1->ad_cname->bv_val, a2->ad_cname->bv_val);
+	return strcasecmp(a1->ad_cname.bv_val, a2->ad_cname.bv_val);
 }
 
 AttributeDescription *
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int bdb_encode(Entry *e, struct berval **bv)
 	for (a=e->e_attrs; a; a=a->a_next) {
 		/* For AttributeDesc, we only store the attr name */
 		siz += sizeof(Attribute);
-		len += a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_len+1;
+		len += a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_len+1;
 		for (i=0; a->a_vals[i]; i++) {
 			siz += sizeof(struct berval *);
 			siz += sizeof(struct berval);
@@ -116,9 +116,9 @@ int bdb_encode(Entry *e, struct berval **bv)
 		b = (Attribute *)data;
 		data = (char *)(b+1);
 		b->a_desc = (AttributeDescription *)(ptr-base);
-		memcpy(ptr, a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_len);
-		ptr += a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_len;
+		memcpy(ptr, a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_len);
+		ptr += a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_len;
 		*ptr++ = '\0';
 		if (a->a_vals) {
 		    bvl = (struct berval **)data;
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/index.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/index.c
index eb259c5efd..71e902e764 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/index.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/index.c
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ static slap_mask_t index_mask(
 	/* we do not support indexing of binary attributes */
 	if( slap_ad_is_binary( desc ) ) return 0;
 
-	bdb_attr_mask( be->be_private, desc->ad_cname->bv_val, &mask );
+	bdb_attr_mask( be->be_private, desc->ad_cname.bv_val, &mask );
 
 	if( mask ) {
-		*atname = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
-		*dbname = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+		*atname = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
+		*dbname = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 		return mask;
 	}
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static slap_mask_t index_mask(
 		bdb_attr_mask( be->be_private, desc->ad_type->sat_cname, &mask );
 
 		if( mask & SLAP_INDEX_AUTO_LANG ) {
-			*atname = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			*atname = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 			*dbname = desc->ad_type->sat_cname;
 			return mask;
 		}
@@ -248,7 +248,6 @@ static int indexer(
 	}
 
 done:
-	ad_free( ad, 1 );
 	return rc;
 }
 
@@ -256,7 +255,7 @@ static int index_at_values(
 	Backend *be,
 	DB_TXN *txn,
 	AttributeType *type,
-	const char *lang,
+	struct berval *lang,
 	struct berval **vals,
 	ID id,
 	int op,
@@ -295,13 +294,13 @@ static int index_at_values(
 		if( rc ) return rc;
 	}
 
-	if( lang ) {
+	if( lang->bv_len ) {
 		char *dbname = NULL;
 		size_t tlen = strlen( type->sat_cname );
-		size_t llen = strlen( lang );
+		size_t llen = lang->bv_len;
 		char *lname = ch_malloc( tlen + llen + sizeof(";") );
 
-		sprintf( lname, "%s;%s", type->sat_cname, lang );
+		sprintf( lname, "%s;%s", type->sat_cname, lang->bv_val );
 
 		bdb_attr_mask( be->be_private, lname, &tmpmask );
 
@@ -347,7 +346,7 @@ int bdb_index_values(
 	}
 
 	rc = index_at_values( be, txn,
-		desc->ad_type, desc->ad_lang,
+		desc->ad_type, &desc->ad_lang,
 		vals, id, op,
 		&dbname, &mask );
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
index 279a8776a1..5bcd494e78 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ add_values(
 	int		i;
 	Attribute	*a;
 
-	/* char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val; */
+	/* char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val; */
 	MatchingRule *mr = mod->sm_desc->ad_type->sat_equality;
 
 	a = attr_find( e->e_attrs, mod->sm_desc );
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ delete_values(
 {
 	int		i, j, k, found;
 	Attribute	*a;
-	char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 	MatchingRule *mr = mod->sm_desc->ad_type->sat_equality;
 
 	/* delete the entire attribute */
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
index 3da231e231..b2e989c426 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
@@ -397,7 +397,6 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 				"bdb_modrdn: access to attr \"%s\" "
 				"(new) not allowed\n", 
 				new_rdn_types[ a_cnt ], 0, 0 );
-			ad_free( desc, 1);
 			rc = LDAP_INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS;
 			goto return_results;
 		}
@@ -450,7 +449,6 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 					"bdb_modrdn: access to attr \"%s\" "
 					"(old) not allowed\n", 
 					old_rdn_types[ d_cnt ], 0, 0 );
-				ad_free( desc, 1);
 				rc = LDAP_INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS;
 				goto return_results;
 			}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-dnssrv/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-dnssrv/search.c
index 28f32d3a1e..ba1d6816b7 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-dnssrv/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-dnssrv/search.c
@@ -176,8 +176,6 @@ dnssrv_back_search(
 
 				val.bv_len = strlen(val.bv_val);
 				attr_merge( e, ad, vals );
-
-				ad_free( ad, 1 );
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -191,8 +189,6 @@ dnssrv_back_search(
 				val.bv_val = domain;
 				val.bv_len = strlen(domain);
 				attr_merge( e, ad, vals );
-
-				ad_free( ad, 1 );
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/add.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/add.c
index 32fc5bb910..d5c3ad0cb9 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/add.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/add.c
@@ -119,20 +119,20 @@ ldap_back_add(
 		 * of the target directory are used, if available
 		 */
 #if 0
-		if ( !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp->ad_cname->bv_val )
+		if ( !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp->ad_cname.bv_val )
 		) {
 			continue;
 		}
 #endif
 		
-		mapped = ldap_back_map(&li->at_map, a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0);
+		mapped = ldap_back_map(&li->at_map, a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0);
 		if (mapped == NULL) {
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/attribute.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/attribute.c
index e8b49e052a..3fe917754c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/attribute.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/attribute.c
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ ldap_back_attribute(
 		}
 
 	} else {
-		mapped = ldap_back_map(&li->at_map, entry_at->ad_cname->bv_val, 0);
+		mapped = ldap_back_map(&li->at_map, entry_at->ad_cname.bv_val, 0);
 		if (mapped == NULL)
 			return(1);
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/compare.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/compare.c
index 23d65f9e56..21bc19279b 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/compare.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/compare.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ ldap_back_compare(
 	}
 #endif /* !ENABLE_REWRITE */
 
-	mapped_oc = ldap_back_map(&li->oc_map, ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0);
+	mapped_oc = ldap_back_map(&li->oc_map, ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0);
 	if (mapped_oc == NULL)
 		return( -1 );
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/group.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/group.c
index a8a167766b..2080f64c15 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/group.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/group.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ ldap_back_group(
 
 	AttributeDescription *ad_objectClass = slap_schema.si_ad_objectClass;
 	char *group_oc_name = NULL;
-	char *group_at_name = group_at->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	char *group_at_name = group_at->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	if( group_oc->soc_names && group_oc->soc_names[0] ) {
 		group_oc_name = group_oc->soc_names[0];
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/modify.c
index a59d4179ca..e1e54052f9 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/modify.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ ldap_back_modify(
 	}
 
 	for (i=0, ml=modlist; ml; ml=ml->sml_next) {
-		mapped = ldap_back_map(&li->at_map, ml->sml_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0);
+		mapped = ldap_back_map(&li->at_map, ml->sml_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0);
 		if (mapped == NULL) {
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
index fa35d582e5..0de3e828fc 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
@@ -543,7 +543,6 @@ ldap_send_entry(
 	while (ent.e_attrs) {
 		attr = ent.e_attrs;
 		ent.e_attrs = attr->a_next;
-		ad_free(attr->a_desc, 1);
 		if (attr->a_vals != &dummy)
 			ber_bvecfree(attr->a_vals);
 		free(attr);
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attr.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attr.c
index f642aedec9..7aef298fa5 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attr.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attr.c
@@ -204,18 +204,17 @@ attr_index_config(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 		LDAP_LOG(( "backend", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
 			   "attr_index_config: index %s 0x%04x\n",
-			   ad->ad_cname->bv_val, mask ));
+			   ad->ad_cname.bv_val, mask ));
 #else
 		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG, "index %s 0x%04x\n",
-			ad->ad_cname->bv_val, mask, 0 ); 
+			ad->ad_cname.bv_val, mask, 0 ); 
 #endif
 
 
 #ifdef SLAPD_USE_AD
 		a->ai_desc = ad;
 #else
-		a->ai_desc = ch_strdup( ad->ad_cname->bv_val );
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
+		a->ai_desc = ch_strdup( ad->ad_cname.bv_val );
 #endif
 
 		a->ai_indexmask = mask;
@@ -243,9 +242,7 @@ static void
 ainfo_free( void *attr )
 {
 	AttrInfo *ai = attr;
-#ifdef SLAPD_USE_AD
-	ad_free( ai->ai_desc, 1 );
-#else
+#ifndef SLAPD_USE_AD
 	free( ai->ai_desc );
 #endif
 	free( ai );
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attribute.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attribute.c
index bad3eed2e2..9dffdce630 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attribute.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/attribute.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ ldbm_back_attribute(
 	int	     i, j, rc;
 	Attribute   *attr;
 	struct berval **v;
-	const char *entry_at_name = entry_at->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	const char *entry_at_name = entry_at->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 	LDAP_LOG(( "backend", LDAP_LEVEL_ARGS,
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/filterindex.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/filterindex.c
index c6df7e2d2c..8732599d74 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/filterindex.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/filterindex.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ filter_candidates(
 	case LDAP_FILTER_PRESENT:
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 		LDAP_LOG(( "filter", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
-			   "filter_candidates:  Present (%s)\n", f->f_desc->ad_cname->bv_val ));
+			   "filter_candidates:  Present (%s)\n", f->f_desc->ad_cname.bv_val ));
 #else
 		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_FILTER, "\tPRESENT\n", 0, 0, 0 );
 #endif
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ filter_candidates(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 		LDAP_LOG(( "filter", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
 			   "filter_candidates:  EQUALITY (%s),(%s)\n",
-			   f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			   f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 			   f->f_ava->aa_value->bv_val ));
 #else
 		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_FILTER, "\tEQUALITY\n", 0, 0, 0 );
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ filter_candidates(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 		LDAP_LOG(( "filter", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
 			   "filter_candidates:  APPROX (%s), (%s)\n",
-			   f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			   f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 			   f->f_ava->aa_value->bv_val ));
 #else
 		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_FILTER, "\tAPPROX\n", 0, 0, 0 );
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c
index ff597f41f9..2de91fd5e8 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ ldbm_back_group(
 
 	AttributeDescription *ad_objectClass = slap_schema.si_ad_objectClass;
 	const char *group_oc_name = NULL;
-	const char *group_at_name = group_at->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	const char *group_at_name = group_at->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	if( group_oc->soc_names && group_oc->soc_names[0] ) {
 		group_oc_name = group_oc->soc_names[0];
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/index.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/index.c
index f24903003d..54ad4442b7 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/index.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/index.c
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@ static slap_mask_t index_mask(
 	/* we do not support indexing of binary attributes */
 	if( slap_ad_is_binary( desc ) ) return 0;
 
-	attr_mask( be->be_private, desc->ad_cname->bv_val, &mask );
+	attr_mask( be->be_private, desc->ad_cname.bv_val, &mask );
 
 	if( mask ) {
-		*atname = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
-		*dbname = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+		*atname = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
+		*dbname = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 		return mask;
 	}
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static slap_mask_t index_mask(
 		attr_mask( be->be_private, desc->ad_type->sat_cname, &mask );
 
 		if( mask & SLAP_INDEX_AUTO_LANG ) {
-			*atname = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			*atname = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 			*dbname = desc->ad_type->sat_cname;
 			return mask;
 		}
@@ -166,7 +166,6 @@ static int indexer(
 			dbname, LDBM_SUFFIX, 0 );
 #endif
 
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
 		return LDAP_OTHER;
 	}
 
@@ -223,14 +222,13 @@ static int indexer(
 	}
 
 	ldbm_cache_close( be, db );
-	ad_free( ad, 1 );
 	return LDAP_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 static int index_at_values(
 	Backend *be,
 	AttributeType *type,
-	const char *lang,
+	struct berval *lang,
 	struct berval **vals,
 	ID id,
 	int op,
@@ -267,10 +265,10 @@ static int index_at_values(
 	if( lang ) {
 		char *dbname = NULL;
 		size_t tlen = strlen( type->sat_cname );
-		size_t llen = strlen( lang );
+		size_t llen = lang->bv_len;
 		char *lname = ch_malloc( tlen + llen + sizeof(";") );
 
-		sprintf( lname, "%s;%s", type->sat_cname, lang );
+		sprintf( lname, "%s;%s", type->sat_cname, lang->bv_val );
 
 		attr_mask( be->be_private, lname, &tmpmask );
 
@@ -309,7 +307,7 @@ int index_values(
 	}
 
 	(void) index_at_values( be,
-		desc->ad_type, desc->ad_lang,
+		desc->ad_type, &desc->ad_lang,
 		vals, id, op,
 		&dbname, &mask );
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modify.c
index 5ae6bb1959..18c83efc7c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modify.c
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ add_values(
 	int		i;
 	Attribute	*a;
 
-	/* char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val; */
+	/* char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val; */
 	MatchingRule *mr = mod->sm_desc->ad_type->sat_equality;
 
 	a = attr_find( e->e_attrs, mod->sm_desc );
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ delete_values(
 {
 	int		i, j, k, found;
 	Attribute	*a;
-	char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	char *desc = mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 	MatchingRule *mr = mod->sm_desc->ad_type->sat_equality;
 
 	/* delete the entire attribute */
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
index 7415c75794..0d1cd28f71 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
@@ -524,7 +524,6 @@ ldbm_back_modrdn(
 				"to attr \"%s\"\n%s%s",
 				new_rdn_types[a_cnt], "", "" );
 #endif
-			ad_free( desc, 1 );
 			send_ldap_result( conn, op, 
 				LDAP_INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS,
 				NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL );
@@ -601,7 +600,6 @@ ldbm_back_modrdn(
 					"to attr \"%s\"\n%s%s",
 					old_rdn_types[d_cnt], "", "" );
 #endif
-				ad_free( desc, 1 );
 				send_ldap_result( conn, op, 
 					LDAP_INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS,
 					NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL );
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/add.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/add.c
index f344c793f5..f23c4bb154 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/add.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/add.c
@@ -151,21 +151,21 @@ meta_back_add(
 		 * of the target directory are used, if available
 		 */
 #if 0
-		if ( !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp(	a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp->ad_cname->bv_val )
+		if ( !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp(	a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp->ad_cname.bv_val )
 		) {
 			continue;
 		}
 #endif
 		
 		mapped = ldap_back_map( &li->targets[ candidate ]->at_map,
-				a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0);
+				a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0);
 		if ( mapped == NULL ) {
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/attribute.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/attribute.c
index f270bed4a1..f8c894a21c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/attribute.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/attribute.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ meta_back_attribute(
 	}
 
 	mapped = ldap_back_map( &li->targets[ candidate ]->at_map,
-			entry_at->ad_cname->bv_val, 0 );
+			entry_at->ad_cname.bv_val, 0 );
 	if ( mapped == NULL )
 		return 1;
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/compare.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/compare.c
index 12cf49ed60..192a61e7f3 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/compare.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/compare.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ meta_back_compare(
 	 */
 	for ( i = 0, lsc = lc->conns; lsc[ 0 ] != NULL; ++i, ++lsc ) {
 		char *mdn = NULL;
-		char *mapped_attr = ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+		char *mapped_attr = ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 		char *mapped_value = ava->aa_value->bv_val;
 
 		if ( lsc[ 0 ]->candidate != META_CANDIDATE ) {
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ meta_back_compare(
 		 */
 		} else {
 			mapped_attr = ldap_back_map( &li->targets[ i ]->at_map,
-				ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0 );
+				ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0 );
 			if ( mapped_attr == NULL ) {
 				lsc[ 0 ]->candidate = META_NOT_CANDIDATE;
 				continue;
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ meta_back_compare(
 		if ( mdn != dn ) {
 			free( mdn );
 		}
-		if ( mapped_attr != ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val ) {
+		if ( mapped_attr != ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val ) {
 			free( mapped_attr );
 		}
 		if ( mapped_value != ava->aa_value->bv_val ) {
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/group.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/group.c
index 3fd884208e..56cf41fe86 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/group.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/group.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ meta_back_group(
 	char *mop_ndn, *mgr_ndn;
 
 	char *group_oc_name = NULL;
-	char *group_at_name = group_at->ad_cname->bv_val;
+	char *group_at_name = group_at->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 	if ( group_oc->soc_names && group_oc->soc_names[ 0 ] ) {
 		group_oc_name = group_oc->soc_names[ 0 ];
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/modify.c
index dd3ea4c3b2..7fc8b8e6e3 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/modify.c
@@ -153,20 +153,20 @@ meta_back_modify(
 		 * lastmod should always be <off>
 		 */
 #if 0
-		if ( !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName->ad_cname->bv_val )
-			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
-			slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp->ad_cname->bv_val ) ) {
+		if ( !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName->ad_cname.bv_val )
+			|| !strcasecmp( a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
+			slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp->ad_cname.bv_val ) ) {
 			continue;
 		}
 #endif
 
 		mapped = ldap_back_map( &li->targets[ candidate ]->at_map,
-				ml->sml_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0 );
+				ml->sml_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0 );
 		if ( mapped == NULL ) {
 			continue;
 		}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c
index c033f66d8b..0700f137d7 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c
@@ -760,7 +760,6 @@ meta_send_entry(
 	while ( ent.e_attrs ) {
 		attr = ent.e_attrs;
 		ent.e_attrs = attr->a_next;
-		ad_free( attr->a_desc, 1 );
 		if ( attr->a_vals != &dummy ) {
 			ber_bvecfree(attr->a_vals);
 		}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-passwd/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-passwd/search.c
index 4cc91c042a..fe386246d9 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-passwd/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-passwd/search.c
@@ -115,8 +115,6 @@ passwd_back_search(
 
 			attr_merge( e, desc, vals );
 
-			ad_free( desc, 1 );
-
 			free(rdn);
 			rdn = NULL;
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-shell/compare.c b/servers/slapd/back-shell/compare.c
index c7c85f8d68..6e68ae90f5 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-shell/compare.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-shell/compare.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ shell_back_compare(
 	print_suffixes( wfp, be );
 	fprintf( wfp, "dn: %s\n", dn );
 	fprintf( wfp, "%s: %s\n",
-		ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+		ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		ava->aa_value->bv_val /* could be binary! */ );
 	fclose( wfp );
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-shell/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-shell/modify.c
index 0f6d66fd4b..3eb2e2e1ea 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-shell/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-shell/modify.c
@@ -55,21 +55,21 @@ shell_back_modify(
 
 		switch ( mod->sm_op ) {
 		case LDAP_MOD_ADD:
-			fprintf( wfp, "add: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			fprintf( wfp, "add: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 			break;
 
 		case LDAP_MOD_DELETE:
-			fprintf( wfp, "delete: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			fprintf( wfp, "delete: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 			break;
 
 		case LDAP_MOD_REPLACE:
-			fprintf( wfp, "replace: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			fprintf( wfp, "replace: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 			break;
 		}
 
 		if( mod->sm_bvalues != NULL ) {
 			for ( i = 0; mod->sm_bvalues[i] != NULL; i++ ) {
-				fprintf( wfp, "%s: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+				fprintf( wfp, "%s: %s\n", mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 					mod->sm_bvalues[i]->bv_val /* binary! */ );
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-sql/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-sql/modify.c
index fa5bc70b6e..bf4f0bb1ed 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-sql/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-sql/modify.c
@@ -68,11 +68,11 @@ int backsql_modify(BackendDB *be,Connection *conn,Operation *op,
  for(ml=modlist;ml!=NULL;ml=ml->sml_next)
  {
   c_mod=&ml->sml_mod;
-  Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_modify(): attribute '%s'\n",c_mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,0,0);
-  at=backsql_at_with_name(oc,c_mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val);
+  Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_modify(): attribute '%s'\n",c_mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,0,0);
+  at=backsql_at_with_name(oc,c_mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val);
   if (at==NULL)
   {
-   Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_modify(): attribute provided is not registered in this objectclass ('%s')\n",c_mod->sm_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,0,0);
+   Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_modify(): attribute provided is not registered in this objectclass ('%s')\n",c_mod->sm_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,0,0);
    continue;
   }
   
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ int backsql_add(BackendDB *be,Connection *conn,Operation *op,Entry *e)
  for(at=e->e_attrs;at!=NULL;at=at->a_next)
  {
   /*Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_add(): scanning entry -- %s\n",at->a_type,0,0);*/
-  if (!strcasecmp(at->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,"objectclass"))
+  if (!strcasecmp(at->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,"objectclass"))
   {
    oc=backsql_oc_with_name(bi,at->a_vals[0]->bv_val);
    break;
@@ -417,16 +417,16 @@ int backsql_add(BackendDB *be,Connection *conn,Operation *op,Entry *e)
 
  for(at=e->e_attrs;at!=NULL;at=at->a_next)
  {
-  at_rec=backsql_at_with_name(oc,at->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val); 
+  at_rec=backsql_at_with_name(oc,at->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val); 
   
   if (at_rec==NULL)
   {
-   Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_add(): attribute provided is not registered in this objectclass ('%s')\n",at->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,0,0);
+   Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_add(): attribute provided is not registered in this objectclass ('%s')\n",at->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,0,0);
    continue;
   }
   if (at_rec->add_proc==NULL)
   {
-   Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_add(): add procedure is not defined for this attribute ('%s')\n",at->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,0,0);
+   Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,"backsql_add(): add procedure is not defined for this attribute ('%s')\n",at->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,0,0);
    continue;
   }
   
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-sql/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-sql/search.c
index ba3bfc03ca..5853597451 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-sql/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-sql/search.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ int backsql_process_filter_list(backsql_srch_info *bsi,Filter *f,int op)
 int backsql_process_sub_filter(backsql_srch_info *bsi,Filter *f)
 {
  int i;
- backsql_at_map_rec *at=backsql_at_with_name(bsi->oc,f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname->bv_val);
+ backsql_at_map_rec *at=backsql_at_with_name(bsi->oc,f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname.bv_val);
  
  if (!f)
   return 0;
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ int backsql_process_filter(backsql_srch_info *bsi,Filter *f)
 			done=1;
 			break;
   case LDAP_FILTER_PRESENT:
-			at_name=f->f_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			at_name=f->f_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 			break;
   default:
-			 at_name=f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			 at_name=f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 			break;
  }
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-sql/util.c b/servers/slapd/back-sql/util.c
index 3de62bae80..fcb1254db2 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-sql/util.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-sql/util.c
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@ int backsql_entry_addattr(Entry *e,char *at_name,char *at_val,unsigned int at_va
   }
   
  rc = attr_merge(e,ad,add_val);
- ad_free( ad, 1 );
 
  if( rc != 0 )
   {
diff --git a/servers/slapd/backend.c b/servers/slapd/backend.c
index ca5fe46074..31a031963d 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/backend.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/backend.c
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ Attribute *backend_operational(
 
 #ifdef SLAPD_SCHEMA_DN
 	a = ch_malloc( sizeof( Attribute ) );
-	a->a_desc = ad_dup( slap_schema.si_ad_subschemaSubentry );
+	a->a_desc = slap_schema.si_ad_subschemaSubentry;
 
 	/* Should be backend specific */
 	a->a_vals = ch_malloc( 2 * sizeof( struct berval * ) );
diff --git a/servers/slapd/compare.c b/servers/slapd/compare.c
index 886ce341dc..8196988daf 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/compare.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/compare.c
@@ -192,15 +192,15 @@ do_compare(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 	LDAP_LOG(( "operation", LDAP_LEVEL_ARGS,
 		   "do_compare: conn %d	 dn (%s) attr(%s) value (%s)\n",
-		   conn->c_connid, dn, ava.aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+		   conn->c_connid, dn, ava.aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		   ava.aa_value->bv_val ));
 #else
 	Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ARGS, "do_compare: dn (%s) attr (%s) value (%s)\n",
-	    dn, ava.aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, ava.aa_value->bv_val );
+	    dn, ava.aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, ava.aa_value->bv_val );
 #endif
 
 	Statslog( LDAP_DEBUG_STATS, "conn=%ld op=%d CMP dn=\"%s\" attr=\"%s\"\n",
-	    op->o_connid, op->o_opid, dn, ava.aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0 );
+	    op->o_connid, op->o_opid, dn, ava.aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0 );
 
 
 	/* deref suffix alias if appropriate */
@@ -218,9 +218,6 @@ cleanup:
 	free( ndn );
 	free( desc.bv_val );
 	free( value.bv_val );
-	if( ava.aa_desc != NULL ) {
-		ad_free( ava.aa_desc, 1 );
-	}
 
 	return rc;
 }
diff --git a/servers/slapd/entry.c b/servers/slapd/entry.c
index 2c9ce52b6f..0bea4e125c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/entry.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/entry.c
@@ -215,8 +215,6 @@ str2entry( char *s )
 
 		rc = attr_merge( e, ad, vals );
 
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
-
 		if( rc != 0 ) {
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 			LDAP_LOG(( "operation", LDAP_LEVEL_DETAIL1,
@@ -307,10 +305,10 @@ entry2str(
 		/* put "<type>:[:] <value>" line for each value */
 		for ( i = 0; a->a_vals[i] != NULL; i++ ) {
 			bv = a->a_vals[i];
-			tmplen = a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_len;
+			tmplen = a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_len;
 			MAKE_SPACE( LDIF_SIZE_NEEDED( tmplen, bv->bv_len ));
 			ldif_sput( (char **) &ecur, LDIF_PUT_VALUE,
-				a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+				a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 			    bv->bv_val, bv->bv_len );
 		}
 	}
@@ -501,21 +499,21 @@ int entry_decode( struct berval *bv, Entry **entry )
 		if( rc != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 			LDAP_LOG(( "operation", LDAP_LEVEL_INFO,
-				   "entry_decode: str2ad(%s): %s\n", type, text ));
+				   "entry_decode: str2ad(%s): %s\n", type->bv_val, text ));
 #else
 			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,
-				"<= entry_decode: str2ad(%s): %s\n", type, text, 0 );
+				"<= entry_decode: str2ad(%s): %s\n", type->bv_val, text, 0 );
 #endif
 			rc = slap_bv2undef_ad( type, &ad, &text );
 
 			if( rc != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 				LDAP_LOG(( "operation", LDAP_LEVEL_INFO,
-					   "entry_decode:  str2undef_ad(%s): %s\n", type, text));
+					   "entry_decode:  str2undef_ad(%s): %s\n", type->bv_val, text));
 #else
 				Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY,
 					"<= entry_decode: str2undef_ad(%s): %s\n",
-						type, text, 0 );
+						type->bv_val, text, 0 );
 #endif
 				ber_bvfree( type );
 				ber_bvecfree( vals );
@@ -525,7 +523,6 @@ int entry_decode( struct berval *bv, Entry **entry )
 		}
 
 		rc = attr_merge( e, ad, vals );
-		ad_free( ad, 1 );
 
 		if( rc != 0 ) {
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
@@ -591,7 +588,7 @@ int entry_encode(
 
 	for ( a = e->e_attrs; a != NULL; a = a->a_next ) {
 		rc = ber_printf( ber, "{O{V}}",
-			a->a_desc->ad_cname,
+			&a->a_desc->ad_cname,
 			a->a_vals );
 		if( rc < 0 ) {
 			goto done;
diff --git a/servers/slapd/filter.c b/servers/slapd/filter.c
index 70aa4b5e28..b06f345935 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/filter.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/filter.c
@@ -118,11 +118,11 @@ get_filter(
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(=)")
-			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_len
+			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_len
 			+ escaped.bv_len );
 
 		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s=%s)",
-			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
@@ -153,11 +153,11 @@ get_filter(
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(>=)")
-			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_len
+			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_len
 			+ escaped.bv_len );
 
 		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s>=%s)",
-			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
@@ -179,11 +179,11 @@ get_filter(
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(<=)")
-			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_len
+			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_len
 			+ escaped.bv_len );
 
 		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s<=%s)",
-			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
@@ -215,9 +215,9 @@ get_filter(
 		ch_free( type.bv_val );
 
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(=*)")
-			+ f->f_desc->ad_cname->bv_len );
+			+ f->f_desc->ad_cname.bv_len );
 		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s=*)",
-			f->f_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			f->f_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 
 		} break;
 
@@ -236,11 +236,11 @@ get_filter(
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(~=)")
-			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_len
+			+ f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_len
 			+ escaped.bv_len );
 
 		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s~=%s)",
-			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
@@ -316,12 +316,12 @@ get_filter(
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_mr_value, &escaped );
 
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(:dn::=)")
-			+ (f->f_mr_desc ? f->f_mr_desc->ad_cname->bv_len : 0)
+			+ (f->f_mr_desc ? f->f_mr_desc->ad_cname.bv_len : 0)
 			+ (f->f_mr_rule_text ? strlen(f->f_mr_rule_text) : 0)
 			+ escaped.bv_len );
 
 		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s%s%s%s:=%s)",
-			 (f->f_mr_desc ? f->f_mr_desc->ad_cname->bv_val : ""),
+			 (f->f_mr_desc ? f->f_mr_desc->ad_cname.bv_val : ""),
 			 (f->f_mr_dnattrs ? ":dn" : ""),
 			 (f->f_mr_rule_text ? ":" : ""),
 			 (f->f_mr_rule_text ? f->f_mr_rule_text : ""),
@@ -474,8 +474,8 @@ get_substring_filter(
 
 	if( fstr ) {
 		*fstr = ch_malloc( sizeof("(=" /*)*/) +
-			f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname->bv_len );
-		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s=" /*)*/, f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname.bv_len );
+		sprintf( *fstr, "(%s=" /*)*/, f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 	}
 
 	for ( tag = ber_first_element( ber, &len, &last ); tag != LBER_DEFAULT;
@@ -646,7 +646,6 @@ return_error:
 				*fstr = NULL;
 			}
 
-			ad_free( f->f_sub_desc, 1 );
 			ber_bvfree( f->f_sub_initial );
 			ber_bvecfree( f->f_sub_any );
 			ber_bvfree( f->f_sub_final );
@@ -683,7 +682,6 @@ filter_free( Filter *f )
 
 	switch ( f->f_choice ) {
 	case LDAP_FILTER_PRESENT:
-		ad_free( f->f_desc, 1 );
 		break;
 
 	case LDAP_FILTER_EQUALITY:
@@ -694,7 +692,6 @@ filter_free( Filter *f )
 		break;
 
 	case LDAP_FILTER_SUBSTRINGS:
-		ad_free( f->f_sub_desc, 1 );
 		if ( f->f_sub_initial != NULL ) {
 			ber_bvfree( f->f_sub_initial );
 		}
@@ -747,7 +744,7 @@ filter_print( Filter *f )
 	case LDAP_FILTER_EQUALITY:
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 		fprintf( stderr, "(%s=%s)",
-			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
 		break;
@@ -755,7 +752,7 @@ filter_print( Filter *f )
 	case LDAP_FILTER_GE:
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 		fprintf( stderr, "(%s>=%s)",
-			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_av_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
 		break;
@@ -763,7 +760,7 @@ filter_print( Filter *f )
 	case LDAP_FILTER_LE:
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 		fprintf( stderr, "(%s<=%s)",
-			f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
 		break;
@@ -771,14 +768,14 @@ filter_print( Filter *f )
 	case LDAP_FILTER_APPROX:
 		filter_escape_value( f->f_av_value, &escaped );
 		fprintf( stderr, "(%s~=%s)",
-			f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname->bv_val,
+			f->f_ava->aa_desc->ad_cname.bv_val,
 		    escaped.bv_val );
 		ber_memfree( escaped.bv_val );
 		break;
 
 	case LDAP_FILTER_SUBSTRINGS:
 		fprintf( stderr, "(%s=" /*)*/,
-			f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			f->f_sub_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 		if ( f->f_sub_initial != NULL ) {
 			filter_escape_value( f->f_sub_initial, &escaped );
 			fprintf( stderr, "%s",
@@ -804,7 +801,7 @@ filter_print( Filter *f )
 
 	case LDAP_FILTER_PRESENT:
 		fprintf( stderr, "(%s=*)",
-			f->f_desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+			f->f_desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 		break;
 
 	case LDAP_FILTER_AND:
diff --git a/servers/slapd/init.c b/servers/slapd/init.c
index ebdb637dab..cfd38d77a2 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/init.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t	gmtime_mutex;
 #if defined( SLAPD_CRYPT ) || defined( SLAPD_SPASSWD )
 ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t	passwd_mutex;
 #endif
+ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t ad_mutex;
 
 int				num_conns;
 long			num_ops_initiated;
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ slap_init( int mode, const char *name )
 			ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_init( &num_sent_mutex );
 
 			ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_init( &gmtime_mutex );
+			ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_init( &ad_mutex );
 #if defined( SLAPD_CRYPT ) || defined( SLAPD_SPASSWD )
 			ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_init( &passwd_mutex );
 #endif
diff --git a/servers/slapd/modify.c b/servers/slapd/modify.c
index 2089bff883..c3e21d1b8e 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/modify.c
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ int slap_mods_opattrs(
 	if( op->o_tag == LDAP_REQ_ADD ) {
 		mod = (Modifications *) ch_calloc( 1, sizeof( Modifications ) );
 		mod->sml_op = mop;
-		mod->sml_desc = ad_dup( slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName );
+		mod->sml_desc = slap_schema.si_ad_creatorsName;
 		mod->sml_bvalues = (struct berval **) malloc( 2 * sizeof( struct berval * ) );
 		mod->sml_bvalues[0] = ber_bvdup( &name );
 		mod->sml_bvalues[1] = NULL;
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ int slap_mods_opattrs(
 
 		mod = (Modifications *) ch_calloc( 1, sizeof( Modifications ) );
 		mod->sml_op = mop;
-		mod->sml_desc = ad_dup( slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp );
+		mod->sml_desc = slap_schema.si_ad_createTimestamp;
 		mod->sml_bvalues = (struct berval **) malloc( 2 * sizeof( struct berval * ) );
 		mod->sml_bvalues[0] = ber_bvdup( &timestamp );
 		mod->sml_bvalues[1] = NULL;
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ int slap_mods_opattrs(
 
 	mod = (Modifications *) ch_calloc( 1, sizeof( Modifications ) );
 	mod->sml_op = mop;
-	mod->sml_desc = ad_dup( slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName );
+	mod->sml_desc = slap_schema.si_ad_modifiersName;
 	mod->sml_bvalues = (struct berval **) malloc( 2 * sizeof( struct berval * ) );
 	mod->sml_bvalues[0] = ber_bvdup( &name );
 	mod->sml_bvalues[1] = NULL;
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ int slap_mods_opattrs(
 
 	mod = (Modifications *) ch_calloc( 1, sizeof( Modifications ) );
 	mod->sml_op = mop;
-	mod->sml_desc = ad_dup( slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp );
+	mod->sml_desc = slap_schema.si_ad_modifyTimestamp;
 	mod->sml_bvalues = (struct berval **) malloc( 2 * sizeof( struct berval * ) );
 	mod->sml_bvalues[0] = ber_bvdup( &timestamp );
 	mod->sml_bvalues[1] = NULL;
diff --git a/servers/slapd/mods.c b/servers/slapd/mods.c
index 7b59cc5e1e..328cfc7287 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/mods.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/mods.c
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ slap_mod_free(
 	int				freeit
 )
 {
-	ad_free( mod->sm_desc, 1 );
-
 	if ( mod->sm_bvalues != NULL )
 		ber_bvecfree( mod->sm_bvalues );
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/mra.c b/servers/slapd/mra.c
index fe883e6e54..1e66f91f6d 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/mra.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/mra.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ mra_free(
     int	freeit
 )
 {
-	ad_free( mra->ma_desc, 1 );
 	ch_free( mra->ma_rule_text );
 	ber_bvfree( mra->ma_value );
 	if ( freeit ) {
diff --git a/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h b/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h
index e8bf36c2f8..05acf2ded5 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h
+++ b/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h
@@ -28,12 +28,8 @@ LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) slap_bv2ad LDAP_P((
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (AttributeDescription *) ad_dup LDAP_P((
 	AttributeDescription *desc ));
 
-LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) ad_free LDAP_P((
-	AttributeDescription *desc,
-	int freeit ));
-
 #define ad_cmp(l,r)	( strcasecmp( \
-	(l)->ad_cname->bv_val, (r)->ad_cname->bv_val ))
+	(l)->ad_cname.bv_val, (r)->ad_cname.bv_val ))
 
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) is_ad_subtype LDAP_P((
 	AttributeDescription *sub,
diff --git a/servers/slapd/repl.c b/servers/slapd/repl.c
index 2dc8344f8e..e309d942cf 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/repl.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/repl.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ replog(
 		ml = change;
 		for ( ; ml != NULL; ml = ml->sml_next ) {
 			char *type;
-			type = ml->sml_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			type = ml->sml_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 			switch ( ml->sml_op ) {
 			case LDAP_MOD_ADD:
 				fprintf( fp, "add: %s\n", type );
diff --git a/servers/slapd/result.c b/servers/slapd/result.c
index f869f86c91..0248a659ac 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/result.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/result.c
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ send_search_entry(
 
 	for ( a = e->e_attrs; a != NULL; a = a->a_next ) {
 		AttributeDescription *desc = a->a_desc;
-		char *type = desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+		char *type = desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 		if ( attrs == NULL ) {
 			/* all addrs request, skip operational attributes */
@@ -836,10 +836,10 @@ send_search_entry(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 			LDAP_LOG(( "acl", LDAP_LEVEL_INFO,
 				   "send_search_entry: conn %d  access to attribute %s not allowed\n",
-				   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname->bv_val ));
+				   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname.bv_val ));
 #else
 			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ACL, "acl: access to attribute %s not allowed\n",
-			    desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0, 0 );
+			    desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0, 0 );
 #endif
 
 			continue;
@@ -868,11 +868,11 @@ send_search_entry(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 					LDAP_LOG(( "acl", LDAP_LEVEL_INFO,
 						   "send_search_entry: conn %d  access to attribute %s, value %d not allowed\n",
-						   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname->bv_val, i ));
+						   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname.bv_val, i ));
 #else
 					Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ACL,
 						"acl: access to attribute %s, value %d not allowed\n",
-					desc->ad_cname->bv_val, i, 0 );
+					desc->ad_cname.bv_val, i, 0 );
 #endif
 
 					continue;
@@ -943,16 +943,16 @@ send_search_entry(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 			LDAP_LOG(( "acl", LDAP_LEVEL_INFO,
 				   "send_search_entry: conn %s  access to attribute %s not allowed\n",
-				   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname->bv_val ));
+				   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname.bv_val ));
 #else
 			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ACL, "acl: access to attribute %s not allowed\n",
-			    desc->ad_cname->bv_val, 0, 0 );
+			    desc->ad_cname.bv_val, 0, 0 );
 #endif
 
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		rc = ber_printf( ber, "{s[" /*]}*/ , desc->ad_cname->bv_val );
+		rc = ber_printf( ber, "{s[" /*]}*/ , desc->ad_cname.bv_val );
 		if ( rc == -1 ) {
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 			LDAP_LOG(( "operation", LDAP_LEVEL_ERR,
@@ -977,11 +977,11 @@ send_search_entry(
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 					LDAP_LOG(( "acl", LDAP_LEVEL_INFO,
 						   "send_search_entry: conn %d access to %s, value %d not allowed\n",
-						   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname->bv_val, i ));
+						   op->o_connid, desc->ad_cname.bv_val, i ));
 #else
 					Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ACL,
 						"acl: access to attribute %s, value %d not allowed\n",
-					desc->ad_cname->bv_val, i, 0 );
+					desc->ad_cname.bv_val, i, 0 );
 #endif
 
 					continue;
diff --git a/servers/slapd/saslauthz.c b/servers/slapd/saslauthz.c
index fcc6c05ce9..5a8b689be5 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/saslauthz.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/saslauthz.c
@@ -567,7 +567,6 @@ slap_sasl_check_authz(char *searchDN, char *assertDN, char *attr, char *authc)
 
 COMPLETE:
 	if( vals ) ber_bvecfree( vals );
-	if( ad ) ad_free( ad, 1 );
 
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 	LDAP_LOG(( "sasl", LDAP_LEVEL_ENTRY,
diff --git a/servers/slapd/schema_check.c b/servers/slapd/schema_check.c
index 6f7d993dd6..4fcc00fbf9 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/schema_check.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/schema_check.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ entry_schema_check(
 		if( is_at_single_value( a->a_desc->ad_type ) &&
 			a->a_vals[1] != NULL )
 		{
-			char *type = a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			char *type = a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 			snprintf( textbuf, textlen, 
 				"attribute '%s' cannot have multiple values",
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ entry_schema_check(
 	for ( a = e->e_attrs; a != NULL; a = a->a_next ) {
 		int ret = oc_check_allowed( a->a_desc->ad_type, aoc->a_vals );
 		if ( ret != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
-			char *type = a->a_desc->ad_cname->bv_val;
+			char *type = a->a_desc->ad_cname.bv_val;
 
 			snprintf( textbuf, textlen, 
 				"attribute '%s' not allowed",
diff --git a/servers/slapd/slap.h b/servers/slapd/slap.h
index a8c770a03f..cef3d3e3d9 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/slap.h
+++ b/servers/slapd/slap.h
@@ -364,6 +364,8 @@ typedef struct slap_matching_rule {
 #define smr_extensions		smr_mrule.mr_extensions
 } MatchingRule;
 
+struct slap_attr_desc;
+
 typedef struct slap_attribute_type {
 	char					*sat_cname;
 	LDAPAttributeType		sat_atype;
@@ -374,6 +376,7 @@ typedef struct slap_attribute_type {
 	MatchingRule			*sat_ordering;
 	MatchingRule			*sat_substr;
 	Syntax				*sat_syntax;
+	struct slap_attr_desc		*sat_ad;
 	struct slap_attribute_type	*sat_next;
 #define sat_oid			sat_atype.at_oid
 #define sat_names		sat_atype.at_names
@@ -419,15 +422,16 @@ typedef struct slap_object_class {
  * represents a recognized attribute description ( type + options )
  */
 typedef struct slap_attr_desc {
-	struct berval *ad_cname;	/* canonical name, must be specified */
+	struct slap_attr_desc *ad_next;
 	AttributeType *ad_type;		/* attribute type, must be specified */
-	char *ad_lang;				/* NULL if no language tags */
+	struct berval ad_cname;		/* canonical name, must be specified */
+	struct berval ad_lang;		/* empty if no language tags */
 	unsigned ad_flags;
 #define SLAP_DESC_NONE		0x0U
 #define SLAP_DESC_BINARY	0x1U
 } AttributeDescription;
 
-#define slap_ad_is_lang(ad)		( (ad)->ad_lang != NULL )
+#define slap_ad_is_lang(ad)		( (ad)->ad_lang.bv_len != 0 )
 #define slap_ad_is_binary(ad)	( (int)((ad)->ad_flags & SLAP_DESC_BINARY) ? 1 : 0 )
 
 /*