Abstract: Methods, data formats, and computer program products are disclosed for exchanging configuration data between a configuration server schema residing on a configuration server and a network directory service. The exchange of data is significantly enhanced through the use of an extension to a network directory service enabling a rapid mapping between a directory service attribute and a configuration server property. A directory service entry includes multiple shadow attributes where each shadow attribute corresponds to a particular directory service attribute. The particular directory service attribute, in turn, has a corresponding property in the configuration server. The extension also includes a correspondence or path matching file that contains matches between directory service addresses and configuration server location identifier or paths.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a data framework and associated client/server protocol for storing and exchanging data among computers in a network. A data schema having an n-way tree-type structure with a root node layer, intermediate node layers, and a data layer for storing configuration data is described. The intermediate node layers contain a multitude of nodes containing categorical information relating to components and various aspects of the computer network. Following a tree structure, each intermediate node and root node has branches emanating to nodes below it. These subordinate nodes are referred to as children nodes. The data node layer is at the bottom of the tree and contains actual specific configuration data relating to components and other aspects of the computer network, such as information regarding users registered to use the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a data framework and associated client/server protocol for storing and exchanging data among computers in a network. A data schema having an n-way tree-type structure with a root node layer, intermediate node layers, and a data layer for storing configuration data is described. The intermediate node layers contain a multitude of nodes containing categorical information relating to components and various aspects of the computer network. Following a tree structure, each intermediate node and root node has branches emanating to nodes below it. These subordinate nodes are referred to as children nodes. The data node layer is at the bottom of the tree and contains actual specific configuration data relating to components and other aspects of the computer network, such as information regarding users registered to use the network.

Abstract: A method and system for creating and maintaining a journal of transactions directed to a configuration database is disclosed. A multi-threaded journaling method logs transactions in a configuration database by first receiving a database transaction, the transaction being either a single modification, e.g. insertion, deletion, update, or a series of modifications directed to the configuration database. An initial entry is inserted into a journal file where the initial entry includes a transaction identifier or handle that corresponds to the database transaction. Subsequent entries are inserted into the journal file corresponding to the specific updates of the transaction, the subsequent entry containing the transaction identifier and actual transaction data relating to the specific update. The journaling mechanism then determines whether each of the specific updates to the configuration database has been successfully completed.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for updating and managing a configuration database used to store configuration and user data in a computer network having multiple clients, such as network computers. The transaction management mechanisms described determine whether new data, such as a new user or specific property, is being added to the configuration database or whether an existing node in the database is being modified by a transaction. A locking mechanism obtains a lock on a node according to whether a new node is being added to the configuration database or an existing node is being modified. During this process, an identifier is assigned to the transaction that caused the lock that acts as a transaction handle. The transaction then proceeds to modify the configuration database by either adding new data or modifying existing data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a data framework and associated client/server protocol for storing and exchanging data among computers in a network. A data schema having an n-way tree-type structure with a root node layer, intermediate node layers, and a data layer for storing configuration data is described. The intermediate node layers contain a multitude of nodes containing categorical information relating to components and various aspects of the computer network. Following a tree structure, each intermediate node and root node has branches emanating to nodes below it. These subordinate nodes are referred to as children nodes. The data node layer is at the bottom of the tree and contains actual specific configuration data relating to components and other aspects of the computer network, such as information regarding users registered to use the network.