Administering directory partitions

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2

Administering directory partitions

Three types of directory partition exist in Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM): configuration, schema, and application. Configuration and schema directory partitions are created automatically during installation. Application directory partitions can be created either during or after installation. Every ADAM directory partition has a unique distinguished name. Distinguished names for directory partitions in ADAM support both Domain Naming System (DNS)-style and X.500-style naming. An ADAM instance does not specify a naming context by default, but it can be configured to provide a default naming context to clients. ADAM configuration and schema directory partitions can be viewed and managed using ADAM administration tools, which are installed during ADAM setup. Application directory partitions are typically managed through directory-enabled applications.

For information about tasks related to directory partitions, see Manage Schemas and Directory Partitions. For more information about types of directory partitions, see Understanding ADAM data and data stores.

Creating directory partitions

The schema and configuration directory partitions are created automatically during installation of an ADAM instance. (Configuration and schema partitions can only be created during ADAM installation.) If you choose to join the ADAM instance being installed to an existing configuration set, the schema and configuration directory partitions from an ADAM instance in the configuration set are replicated to the new instance. If you install a new ADAM instance, the installation process creates default versions of the schema and configuration directory partitions for you. If you install an ADAM instance from media, the schema and configuration directory partitions for the new ADAM instance are replicas of the directory partitions from the media.

When you install a new ADAM instance, you can also choose to replicate one or more application directory partitions from an existing ADAM instance. Or, you can specify the creation of a new application partition. When you create a new application directory partition during installation, you must specify a unique distinguished name for the partition. The new application directory partition consists only of a partition container object with the distinguished name that you specify.

Naming directory partitions

Each ADAM directory partition has its own, unique distinguished name. ADAM supports both DNS-style and X.500-style names for top-level directory partitions, including the distinguished name components that are listed in the following table.

Specifying a default naming context

By default, an ADAM instance does not provide a default naming context. You can, however, configure ADAM to provide a default naming context, by specifying a value for the msDS-defaultNamingContext attribute on the NTDSA object, at:

This msDS-defaultNamingContext attribute contains no value by default. If a value is set in the attribute, that value is returned to a client through the defaultNamingContext attribute of the rootDse object when the rootDse object is read.

When a bind is requested on the rootDSE object, ADAM returns the value of defaultNamingContext, if the msDS-defaultNamingContext attribute on the NTDSA object is set to the distinguished name of a top-level container of an instantiated naming context. Otherwise, no value is returned.

Importing and exporting directory objects

You can use a number of methods to import and export directory objects, both to and from the schema directory partition, as well as to and from application directory partitions. You can use the ldifde command-line tool to import and export .ldf files. You can use the csvde command-line tool to import and export .csv (comma-delimited) files. For more information, see Import or export directory objects using ldifde and Import or export directory objects using csvde.

Administering application directory partitions

You can create an application directory partition during setup. You can also create application directory partitions at any time after installation, either through ADAM administration tools or through your directory-enabled application. In production environments, you typically manage your application directory partitions and the data that they contain through your directory-enabled applications.

For information about creating application directory partitions, see Add an application directory partition.