Specifications

Chapter 1 Directory Service Concepts 15

Directory Services and Directory Domains

A directory service acts as an intermediary between application and system software

processes, which need information about users and resources, and the directory

domains that store the information. In Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server, Open Directory

provides directory services. Open Directory can access information in one directory

domain or several directory domains.

A directory domain stores information in a specialized database that is optimized to

handle a great many requests for information and to find and retrieve information

quickly.

Processes running on Mac OS X computers can use the Open Directory services to save

information in directory domains. For example, when you create a user account with

Workgroup Manager, it has Open Directory store user name and other account

information in a directory domain. Of course you can then review user account

information with Workgroup Manager, and it has Open Directory retrieve the user

information from a directory domain.

Printers

Groups

Computers

Users

Application and

system software

processes

Mounts