Red Hat 8.1 Instruction Manual
1
Directory Server 8.1
Red Hat Directory Server
8.1 Release Notes
for Directory Server 8.1
Copyright © 2009 Red Hat, Inc.
Copyright © 2009 Red Hat, Inc.. This material may only be distributed subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in the Open Publication License, V1.0 or later (the latest
version of the OPL is presently available at http://www.opencontent.org/openpub/).
Red Hat and the Red Hat "Shadow Man" logo are registered trademarks of Red Hat,
Inc. in the United States and other countries.
All other trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
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Fax: +1 919 754 3701
PO Box 13588 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
April 28, 2009, updated September 9, 2009
1. New in Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 ....................................................................................... 1
2. System Requirements ............................................................................................................. 6
3. Installing Directory Server 8.1 .................................................................................................. 8
4. Basic Information about Red Hat Directory Server .................................................................. 12
5. Bugs Fixed in 8.1 .................................................................................................................. 14
6. Known Issues ....................................................................................................................... 22
These release notes contain important information available at the release of Red Hat Directory Server
version 8.1. New features, system requirements, installation notes, known problems, resources,
and other current issues are addressed here. Read this document before beginning to use Directory
Server 8.1.
1. New in Red Hat Directory Server 8.1
Directory Server 8.1 has introduced many features to make managing the directory service and its
data easier.
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 Release Notes
2
1.1. Enhanced Server to Server Connections with Added SASL/
Digest-MD5 (Kerberos), SASL/GSSAPI (Kerberos), and Start TLS
Support
Red Hat Directory Server performs a number of different connections between servers, such as
replication, chaining, synchronization, and pass-through authentication. To secure these connections,
Red Hat Directory Server previously supported SSL and TLS authentication. Directory Server 8.1
expands the secure connection options to include SASL/Digest-MD5 (Kerberos), SASL/GSSAPI
(Kerberos), and Start TLS for these server to server operations.
Connections between Directory Server instances can be secured using SASL and Start TLS. This
includes replication and chaining (database links).
Pass-through authentication now allows optional arguments to enable Start TLS. (SASL connections
are not supported for pass-through authentication.)
Windows synchronization now supports Start TLS (a secure TLS connection over a standard LDAP
port) for Active Directory-Directory Server connections. (SASL connections are not supported for
Windows.)
The configuration attributes and Console has been updated to include these enhancements:
• For replication and synchronization, the nsds5ReplicaBindMethod and
nsds5ReplicaTransportInfo attributes
• For chaining, the nsUseStartTLS, nsBindMechanism and nsActiveChainingComponents
attributes
1.2. Server Task Management to LDAP with cn=tasks Entries
Directory Server 8.1 has long had the ability to launch server maintenance tasks over LDAP. Directory
tasks like import, export, backup, restore, and indexing, as well as new tasks for reloading schema
and updating people's group membership attributes. However, this feature has not previously been
documented. In Directory Server, documentation has been added for the five original database tasks
(import, export, index, backup, and restore). Additionally, two new tasks have been created for the new
dynamic schema reload and memberOf tasks.
Each task has its own entry under the cn=tasks,cn=config configuration entry in the server's DSE.
A new task entry can be added, with task-specific attributes, to initiate the task. As soon as the task is
completed, the task entry is removed. For example, this launches a task to create a new index:
/usr/lib/mozldap/ldapmodify -a -D "cn=directory manager" -w secret -p 389 -
h server.example.com
dn: cn=example presence index, cn=index, cn=tasks, cn=config
objectclass: nsDirectoryServerTask
cn: example presence index
nsIndexAttribute: "cn:pres"
All seven tasks and their allowed attributes are covered in the cn=tasks,cn=config section of
the core configuration chapter in the Red Hat Directory Server Configuration, Command, and File
Reference.
Improved Schema Extensions through Dynamic Schema Reloads
3
1.3. Improved Schema Extensions through Dynamic Schema
Reloads
Previous to Red Hat Directory Server 8.1, if custom schema file was added to the Directory Server, the
Directory Server instance had to be restarted to load the schema.
Directory Server 8.1 introduces a dynamic schema reload task, which allows custom schema files to
be added to an instance and loaded on the fly. This simplifies extending Directory Server schema.
Dynamic schema reload is supported through the cn=tasks,cn=config entry (by adding a task
entry beneath the cn=schema reload task, cn=tasks,cn=config container entry) and
through a new script, schema-reload.pl.
1.4. Added Support for Unix Sockets and Autobind
Inter-process communication (IPC) is a way for processes on a Unix machine or network to
communicate directly with each other. Running LDAP operations over IPC connections is called
LDAPI. Directory Server 8.1 introduces LDAPI support, meaning that Directory Server's LDAP
operations can run over Unix sockets.
Enabling LDAPI also allows the Directory Server to use autobind to authenticate logged in Unix users
to the Directory Server automatically, based on their Unix credentials.
Both LDAPI and autobind are configured through new core configuration attributes which have been
added to the Directory Server.
1.5. Added New Plug-in for Automatically Managing and Assigning
Numbers for Attributes
Some entry attributes require having a unique number, such as uidNumber and gidNumber.
Directory Server 8.1 introduces the Distributed Numeric Assignment (DNA) Plug-in. This plug-in
assigns ranges of numbers to a server, and the server then assigns numbers to attributes, based on
their subtree and a matching filter. Ranges can be reallocated among supplier servers to make sure
that a server always has an adequate range without assigning duplicate numbers.
1.6. Added New Plug-in to Simplify Group Membership Management
Group membership is defined in the group entry itself. For static groups, members are identified by
their DN in the member or uniqueMember attribute. However, before Directory Server 8.1, there was
no way to tell by looking at a user entry what groups the user was a member of.
Directory Server 8.1 has added a new managed attribute, memberOf, and a new MemberOf Plug-in.
Whenever a member is added to a static group, the MemberOf Plug-in uses the person's DN from the
member or uniqueMember attribute to search for the user entry, and then adds a memberOf attribute
to the user entry. This way, it's simple to tell from looking at the user entry what groups it belongs to.
memberOf attributes are initially assigned to entries by running a special task. This task can be
launched by creating a task entry beneath the cn=memberof task, cn=task,cn=config
container entry or by running the new fixup-memberof.pl script.
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 Release Notes
4
1.7. Extended Get Effective Rights Operations with Options for Non-
Existent and Operational Attributes
A get effective rights operation is an extended ldapsearch that, along with regular search results,
returns that access permissions that one directory user has to a directory entry or entries.
Directory Server 8.1 adds two additional attribute search options for get effective rights searches. One
(*) returns rights for non-existent attributes for the entry, meaning attributes which could be set on the
entry but currently are not. The other (+) returns access rights for operational attributes for the entry.
1.8. Added New Support for 64-Bit Integers for Performance
Counters on 32-Bit Systems
Many of the performance counters for the Directory Server — including server statistics, database
statistics, and SNMP monitoring — record 32-bit integers. For large or high-traffic systems, these
counters may roll over too quickly, creating quirky performance statistics and making it difficult to
conduct long-term analysis.
Directory Server 8.1 introduces support for 64-bit integers for performance counters, even on 32-
bit systems. These 64-bit integers are enabled through a new configuration attribute on the DSE,
nsslapd-counters. When 64-bit integers are enabled, all available counters support 64-bit integers.
For server statistics, there are five counters which support 64-bit integers:
• opsinitiated
• opscompleted
• entriessent
• bytessent
• totalConnections
For database statistics, there are four counters which support 64-bit integers:
• entrycachehits
• entrycachetries
• currententrycachesize
• maxentrycachesize
All of the attributes monitored by SNMP can support 64-bit integers.
1.9. Added New Parameter for Setting the Interval for Win Sync
Checks
In synchronization, updates are sent two ways, from the Directory Server to the Active Directory
server and from Active Directory back to the Directory Server. The frequency which Directory
Server sends updates to Active Directory is set in the synchronization schedule, handled by the
nsds5replicaupdateschedule attribute. The frequency which Directory Server checked Active
Directory for updates was hard coded at five minutes.
Added a New Parameter to Control How the Server Handles Unauthenticated Binds
5
A new attribute has been added, winSyncInterval, which sets how frequently the Directory Server
should check the Active Directory peer for changes. If this attribute is not set, the default frequency is
still every five minutes.
This new Win Sync interval can be used with existing sync agreements. To apply this new attribute:
1. Upgrade the software, as described in Section 3.4, “Upgrading to Directory Server 8.1”.
2. Copy the 01common.ldif from the common /etc/dirsrv/schema directory into the instance-
specific directory, such as /usr/lib/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name/schema.
It is okay to overwrite the new 01common.ldif schema file because it is new and because the
core configuration schema should never be modified, so there shouldn't be any custom settings.
3. Reload the schema. For example:
/usr/lib/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name/schema-reload.pl -D "cn=Directory
Manager" -w secret
4. Edit the sync agreement to add the winSyncInterval attribute.
/usr/lib/mozldap/ldapmodify -a -D "cn=directory manager" -w secret -p
389 -h server.example.com
dn: cn=ExampleSyncAgreement,cn=sync
replica,cn="dc=example,dc=com",cn=mapping tree,cn=config
changetype: modify
add: winSyncInterval
winSyncInterval: 600
1.10. Added a New Parameter to Control How the Server Handles
Unauthenticated Binds
Users can attempt to bind to the directory using a username but without giving a password. For
example, this command does not include the -w option or any other password option:
/usr/lib/mozldap/ldapsearch -D "cn=directory manager" -b
"dc=example,dc=com" -s sub "(objectclass=*)"
This is called an unauthenticated bind, because the user as whom to bind is given, but without any
credentials.
Before 8.1, the Directory Server allowed that unauthenticated bind to continue as an anonymous bind.
However, this created a management issue for servers which did not allow anonymous binds and a
security risk for ones which did.
A new configuration attribute, nsslapd-allow-unauthenticated-binds, sets whether to allow
an unauthenticated bind to succeed as an anonymous bind or whether the bind attempt fails. By
default, this is turned off, so that unauthenticated binds fail, which is more secure.
nsslapd-allow-unauthenticated-binds: off
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 Release Notes
6
2. System Requirements
This section contains information related to installing and upgrading Red Hat Directory Server 8.1,
including prerequisites and hardware or platform requirements.
2.1. Required JDK
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 requires Sun JRE 1.6.0 or OpenJDK 1.6.0 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux
5 and HP-UX.
IMPORTANT
When the new JDK is installed for Directory Server 8.1, it is no longer possible to manage
older instances of Directory Server using the Directory Server Console because the
required JDKs for the different Directory Server versions are different. You must migrate
any older instance to Directory Server 8.1 if you need to manage that instance with the
Directory Server Console.
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 requires Java IBM 1.6.0 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.
2.2. Perl Prerequisites
Directory Server 8.1 does not package nsperl with the product. perldap should work with the version
of perl pre-installed on the system.
There are some prerequisites for perl to run perldap with the pre-installed version.
• For Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems, use the Perl version that is installed with the operating
system in /usr/bin/perl for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Red Hat Directory Server.
• On Solaris systems, Red Hat Directory Server is installed with a Perl package, RHATperlx, that
must be used. This package contains a 64-bit version of Perl 5.8. It is not possible to use the Perl
version installed in /usr/bin/perl on Solaris because it is 32 bit and will not work with Directory
Server's 64-bit components.
• On HP-UX, Red Hat Directory Server uses the Perl version installed with the operating system in /
opt/perl_64/bin/perl. Contact Hewlett-Packard support if this Perl version is not installed.
2.3. Directory Server Supported Platforms
Directory Server 8.1 is supported on the following platforms:
• HP-UX 11i Itanium/IPF
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 i386 (32-bit)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 x86_64 (64-bit)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 i386 (32-bit)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 x86_64 (64-bit)
Directory Server Console Supported Platforms
7
NOTE
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 is supported running on a virtual guest on a Red Hat
Enterprise Linux 5 virtual server.
• Sun Solaris 9 (SPARC v9, 64-bit)
2.4. Directory Server Console Supported Platforms
The Directory Server Console is supported on the following platforms:
• HP-UX 11i Itanium/IPF
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 i386 (32-bit)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 x86_64 (64-bit)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 i386 (32-bit)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 x86_64 (64-bit)
• Sun Solaris 9 (SPARC v9, 64-bit)
• Windows XP
• Windows 2000 Server
• Windows 2003 Server
NOTE
The Directory Server Console can be installed on additional Windows platforms at an
additional cost.
2.5. Windows Sync Service Platforms
The Windows Sync tool runs on these Windows platforms:
• Windows 2003 Active Directory (32-bit)
• Windows 2000 Active Directory (32-bit)
2.6. Web Application Browser Support
Directory Server 8.1 supports the following browsers to access web-based interfaces, such as Admin
Express and online help tools:
• Firefox 1.0 (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and Solaris 9)
• Mozilla 1.4 (HP-UX)
• Mozilla 1.4.3 (Solaris 9)
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 Release Notes
8
• Mozilla 1.7.3 (Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (Windows)
3. Installing Directory Server 8.1
For more detailed instructions on installing Directory Server 8.1, see the Directory Server Installation
Guide at http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/dir-server/.
3.1. Installing the JDK
Directory Server 8.1 requires Sun JRE 1.6.0 or OpenJDK 1.6.0. The appropriate Sun JDK should
already be available on Sun Solaris systems, but it is necessary to install the JDK separately for other
platforms. Either Sun JDK 6.0 or OpenJDK 1.6.0 is allowed.
For example, to install OpenJDK on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5:
yum install java-1.6.0-openjdk
OpenJDK is also available for download from http://openjdk.java.net/install/ for Red Hat Enterprise
Linux and HP-UX.
For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, subscribe to the Extras channel in Red Hat Network, and install Java
IBM 1.6.0 using up2date:
up2date java-1.6.0-ibm
IMPORTANT
When the new JDK is installed for Directory Server 8.1, it is no longer possible to manage
older instances of Directory Server using the Directory Server Console because the
required JDKs for the different Directory Server versions are different. You must migrate
any older instance to Directory Server 8.1 if you need to manage that instance with the
Directory Server Console.
3.2. Obtaining Packages
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 packages are available for download from Red Hat Network (http://
rhn.redhat.com). Downloading packages from Red Hat Network requires specific entitlements for the
account for the 8.1 release.
To download Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 packages, log into Red Hat Network, then open the Red
Hat Directory Server 8.1 channel in Channels and go to the Downloads tab.
Both RPMs and ISO images are available for download through Red Hat Network. RPM packages can
be downloaded and installed using rpm. The ISO images for Red Hat Enterprise Linuxand Solaris can
be downloaded and burned on to a CD-recordable media using the appropriate software.
Along with the packages, there are tarball (.tar.gz file) archives for the source code.
Running setup-ds-admin.pl
9
NOTE
The source files are tarball (.tar.gz) archive files, not ISO images.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux customers can use Red Hat Network to obtain packages, or they can simply
install or update their packages using yum or up2date, using an account with entitlements for the Red
Hat Directory Server 8.1 release.
Directory Server packages are installed using native package management tools. For example, on
Red Hat Enterprise Linux:
ls *.rpm | egrep -iv -e devel -e debuginfo | xargs rpm -ivh
On Sun Solaris:
for pkg in *.pkg ; do
pkgadd -d $pkg all
done
The Password Sync packages available for download contain the PassSync.msi installer file.
Download this file to the Windows machine, and then double-click the icon and go through the
installer.
IMPORTANT
Although the Password Sync packages are listed in every Directory Server channel in Red
Hat Network (Solaris, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 32-bit and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 64-
bit), Password Sync is only supported on 32-bit Windows machines.
3.3. Running setup-ds-admin.pl
After installing the packages, run the setup-ds-admin.pl script to configure the new Directory
Server and Administration Server instances. For example:
setup-ds-admin.pl
See the Directory Server Installation Guide for more information about setup-ds-admin.pl script
options and the Directory Server configuration interface.
3.4. Upgrading to Directory Server 8.1
Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems support an in-place upgrade when moving from Red Hat Directory
Server 8.0 to Red Hat Directory Server 8.1. To do this:
1. Back up your current Directory Server, according to your preferred backup method. For example:
cd /usr/lib/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 Release Notes
10
db2bak /var/lib/dirsrv/slapd-instance_name/
bak/instance_name-2009_04_30_16_27_56
2. Install or update the RPMs. For example:
yum update -y
This automatically updates the Red Hat Directory Server packages and all required packages.
Red Hat Directory Server 8.1 requires that all of the packages in the Red Hat Directory Server
channel be updated. Running simply yum update updates all Red Hat Directory Server and Red
Hat Enterprise Linux packages. To exclude packages from updating on your system, you can
use --exclude packages, restrict the update to only the Red Hat Directory Server channel, or
explicitly list the packages to update. Run man yum for a list of options.
3. Re-run the setup script with the -u option.
setup-ds-admin.pl -u
This updates the settings automatically, without having to migrate or re-configure the server.
4. Restart the Directory Server.
service dirsrv restart
5. Verify that the packages have been properly updated by checking the version number on one of
the Directory Server packages. For example:
rpm -qf /usr/sbin/setup-ds-admin.pl
redhat-ds-admin-8.1.0-9.el5dsrv
Also restart the Directory Server Console to make sure that the version and build numbers are
appropriately updated.
6. The Distributed Numeric Assignment and MemberOf Plug-ins are new with Directory Server 8.1.
Their configuration is not automatically added to the dse.ldif file with the in-place upgrade, so
you need to add these entries to the file.
• The MemberOf Plug-in template entry is in /usr/share/dirsrv/data/template-
dse.ldif.
• The DNA Plug-in template entry is in /usr/share/dirsrv/data/template-
dnaplugin.ldif.
These entries can be added using ldapmodify or by editing the dse.ldif file directly. For
example:
/usr/lib/mozldap/ldapmodify -a -D "cn=directory manager" -w secret -p
389 -h server.example.com
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4
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