Chapter 1. Basic Red Hat Directory Server Settings

Red Hat Directory Server product includes a directory service, an administration server to manage multiple server instances, and a Java-based console to manage server instances through a graphical interface. This chapter provides an overview of the basic tasks for administering a directory service.
The Directory Server is a robust, scalable server designed to manage an enterprise-wide directory of users and resources. It is based on an open-systems server protocol called the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Directory Server runs the ns-slapd daemon on the host machine. The server manages the directory databases and responds to client requests.
Directory Server 9.0 is comprised of several components, which work in tandem:
  • The Directory Server is the core LDAP server daemon. It is compliant with LDAP v3 standards. This component includes command-line server management and administration programs and scripts for common operations like export and backing up databases.
  • The Directory Server Console is the user interface that simplifies managing users, groups, and other LDAP data for your enterprise. The Console is used for all aspects of server management, including making backups; configuring security, replication, and databases; adding entries; and monitoring servers and viewing statistics.
  • The Admin Server is the management agent which administers Directory Server instances. It communicates with the Directory Server Console and performs operations on the Directory Server instances. It also provides a simple HTML interface and online help pages.
Most Directory Server administrative tasks are available through the Directory Server Console, but it is also possible to administer the Directory Server by manually editing the configuration files or by using command-line utilities.

1.1. System Requirements

This section contains information related to installing and upgrading Red Hat Directory Server 9.0, including prerequisites and hardware or platform requirements.

1.1.1. Required JRE

Red Hat Directory Server 9.0 requires the Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.8.0 or OpenJDK 1.8.0 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6.

Important

It is not possible to manage instances of Directory Server older than 8.1 (which used JRE 1.5) with the 9.0 Directory Server Console because they are using different JRE versions.

1.1.2. Directory Server Supported Platforms

Directory Server 9.0 is supported on the following platforms:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (64-bit)

Note

Red Hat Directory Server 9.0 is supported running on a virtual guest on a Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual server.

1.1.3. Directory Server Console Supported Platforms

The Directory Server Console is supported on the following platforms:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (64-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (32-bit)
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (64-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (32-bit)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)

1.1.4. Password Sync Service Platforms

The Password Sync Service works with these Microsoft Windows services:
  • Active Directory on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (32-bit)
  • Active Directory on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (64-bit)

1.1.5. Web Application Browser Support

Directory Server 9.0 supports the following browsers to access web-based interfaces, such as Admin Express and online help tools:
  • Firefox 3.x
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher