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LDAP Servers Managing Authentication Servers
page 20-16 OmniSwitch 6600 Family Network Configuration Guide April 2006
LDAP servers are also able to import and export directory databases using LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange
Format).
LDIF File Structure
LDIF is used to transfer data to LDAP servers in order to build directories or modify LDAP databases.
LDIF files specify multiple directory entries or changes to multiple entries, but not both. The file is in
simple text format and can be created or modified in any text editor. In addition, LDIF files import and
export binary data encoded according to the base 64 convention used with MIME (Multipurpose Internet
Mail Extensions) to send various media file types, such as JPEG graphics, through electronic mail.
An LDIF file entry used to define an organizational unit would look like this:
dn: <distinguished name>
objectClass: top
objectClass: organizationalUnit
ou: <organizational unit name>
<list of optional attributes>
Below are definitions of some LDIF file entries:
Common Entries
The most common LDIF entries describe people in companies and organizations. The structure for such an
entry might look like the following:
dn: <distinguished name>
objectClass: top
objectClass: person
objectClass: organizational Person
cn: <common name>
sn: <surname>
<list of optional attributes>
This is how the entry would appear with actual data in it.
dn: uid=yname, ou=people, o=yourcompany
objectClass: top
objectClass: person
objectClass: organizational Person
cn: your name
sn: last name
givenname: first name
entries definition
dn: <distinguished name> Defines the DN (required).
objectClass: top Defines top object class (at least one is required). Object
class defines the list of attributes required and allowed in
directory server entries.
objectClass: organizationalUnit Specifies that organizational unit should be part of the
object class.
ou: <organizationalUnit name> Defines the organizational unit’s name.
<list of attritbutes> Defines the list of optional entry attributes.