Directory Services

Flashcard 1

Q: What is a directory in IT?
A: A centralized, hierarchical information repository that organizes and centralizes objects like users, groups, devices, and applications.

Flashcard 2

Q: What is a directory service?
A: Protocols, functions, and APIs that allow access to directory information, such as DAP and LDAP.

Flashcard 3

Q: What are some functions of a directory?
A:

  • Provides centralized authentication

  • Enables single sign-on

  • Serves as a network "phone book"

  • Supports granular administration control

Flashcard 4

Q: How is a directory structured?
A: In a hierarchical tree format with a Root, Branches, and Leaves.

Flashcard 5

Q: What are the two common ways to arrange a directory?
A: Geographically or functionally, or a combination of both.

Flashcard 6

Q: What is pruning and grafting in directory services?
A: The ability to move objects (users, groups, computers) within the directory tree.

Flashcard 7

Q: What are directory attributes and inheritance?
A: Objects inherit attributes from their location, which ensures consistency. Moving objects changes their inherited attributes.

Flashcard 8

Q: What is a directory schema?
A: Defines the attribute types, structure, container objects, and leaf objects in a directory.

Flashcard 9

Q: What are some common container objects in a directory?
A:

  • Country (c)

  • Organization (o)

  • Organizational Unit (ou)

  • Group of names

Flashcard 10

Q: What is a leaf object in a directory?
A: An object that cannot contain other objects, such as a person, computer, or printer.

Flashcard 11

Q: What are some examples of leaf object attributes?
A:
For a printer:

  • Make/model

  • Duplex capability

  • Color or B&W

  • Paper sizes available

Flashcard 12

Q: What are directory-enabled applications?
A: Applications that rely on the directory for information, such as user login, VPN authentication, and digital signatures.

Flashcard 13

Q: What is an Organizational Unit (OU)?
A: A container within a directory that can be nested and used to structure objects logically.

Flashcard 14

Q: What is a Distinguished Name (DN)?
A: A unique identifier for an entry in the directory, which can be absolute or relative.

Flashcard 15

Q: What are the common layers of directory naming conventions?
A:

  1. c = Country

  2. o = Organization

  3. ou = Organizational Unit

  4. cn = Common Name

Example LDAP format:
cn=John Doe, ou=Students, o=CIT, c=WL

Flashcard 16

Q: What is X.500?
A: The original directory standard developed by ITU-T, introducing tree structures, attributes, DN, and RDN.

Flashcard 17

Q: What are the main components of X.500?
A:

  • DSA (Directory System Agent)

  • DUA (Directory User Agent)

  • DAP (Directory Access Protocol)

  • DSP (Directory System Protocol)

Flashcard 18

Q: What is LDAP?
A: Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, a standardized method for querying and modifying directory services over TCP/IP.

Flashcard 19

Q: What port does LDAP operate on?
A: TCP port 389.

Flashcard 20

Q: What is Active Directory?
A: Microsoft's directory service based on X.500, replacing NTDS since 2000.

Flashcard 21

Q: What is eDirectory?
A: Novell’s directory service (previously NDS), loosely based on X.500.

Flashcard 22

Q: What is Open Directory?
A: Apple’s directory service using LDAP and Kerberos, integrating with Active Directory.

Flashcard 23

Q: When is a directory service required?
A:

  • Essential for large organizations with multiple locations and departments.

  • Not typically required for small businesses with simple IT needs