Specifications

Chapter 1 Directory Services with Open Directory 21

However, a directory domain stores much more data to support functions that are

unique to Mac OS X, such as support for managing Mac OS X client computers.

Data Distribution

A characteristic of UNIX conguration les is that the administrative data they contain

is available only to the computer they are stored on. Each computer has its own UNIX

conguration les.

With UNIX conguration les, each computer that someone wants to use must have

that person’s user account settings stored on it, and each computer must store the

account settings for every person who can use the computer. To set up a computer’s

network settings, the administrator must to go to the computer and enter the IP

address and other information that identies the computer on the network.

Similarly, when user or network information must be changed in UNIX conguration

les, the administrator must make the changes on the computer where the les reside.

Some changes, such as network settings, require the administrator to make the same

changes on multiple computers. This approach becomes unwieldy as networks grow

in size and complexity.

Open Directory solves this problem by letting you store administrative data in a

directory domain that can be managed by a network administrator from one location.

Open Directory lets you distribute the information so it is visible on a network to

the computers that need it and the administrator who manages it, as shown in the

following illustration.

System

administrator

Users