Abstract: A method of entry distribution includes receiving requests by a chaining backend from an original client, forwarding requests from the chaining backend to a one of a plurality of remote servers, and returning results from the one of the plurality of remote servers to the original client. The chaining backend is a type of database plug-in that acts as a multiplexer including a directory information tree that provides the hierarchy of the plurality of remote servers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a directory server component, for use with a request query (420) adapted to receive an input request from a client (100) and to retrieve corresponding result data from a database (302). This directory server component comprises a cache manager (240) for storing sets of data, each set of data comprising request identifying data and corresponding result data. This directory server component also comprises a request manger (410), responding to an input request, for searching request identifying data that match the input request, and subsequently for deciding whether result data in the sets of data will be at least partially used to answer the request.

Abstract: A method to support access control checks in a directory server with a chaining backend includes binding a user to a multiplexer, forwarding an authentication sequence from the multiplexer to a first remote server, binding the user to the first remote server, authenticating the user if binding to the first remote server is successful, binding the multiplexer as a special user to a second remote server, where the second remote server holds target data, sending an operation and an original user identity from the user to the multiplexer, and forwarding the operation from the multiplexer to the second remote server.

Abstract: A computer-implemented directory access mechanism provides a directory service operable to access a network directory under a predetermined protocol by responding to an access request under the protocol for information available in a predetermined environment external to the directory. The directory service then uses the access method for the environment to access the information available in the environment. In this manner, data in the given environment can be accessed by a directory service operable under the given protocol by configuring an attribute access method and using this method to retrieve the information. The protocol can be the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. The information to be accessed could typically be an attribute of an entry in the directory. An access control list (for example the Directory Access Control Domain) can contain not only control access rights for directory objects, but also the access methods for attributes of the directory objects.

Abstract: A method of entry distribution includes receiving requests by a chaining backend from an original client, forwarding requests from the chaining backend to a remote server, and returning results from the remote server to the original client. The chaining backend is a type of database plug-in that acts as a multiplexer with limited persistent storage capabilities.

Abstract: A computer-implemented directory access mechanism provides a directory service operable to access a network directory under a predetermined protocol by responding to an access request under the protocol for information available in a predetermined environment external to the directory. The directory service then uses the access method for the environment to access the information available in the environment. In this manner, data in the given environment can be accessed by a directory service operable under the given protocol by configuring an attribute access method and using this method to retrieve the information. The protocol can be the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. The information to be accessed could typically be an attribute of an entry in the directory. An access control list (for example the Directory Access Control Domain) can contain not only control access rights for directory objects, but also the access methods for attributes of the directory objects.