NetWare Directory Services

2-5
Understanding NetWare Directory Services
What are Directory Services?
Flexibility The hierarchical design of NDS allows for easy alteration of the network structure.
Components of the network can be merged or split as needed. You can move objects
from one part of the Directory tree to another.
Scaleability NDS has a modular design that allows you to customize it for any size and type of
network. This means that as your organization changes to incorporate more
resources and services, or downsizes to meet more specialized needs, the
architecture and management of your network remains the same.
Interoperability NDS provides compatibility with existing Novell and third-party products.
Specifically, NDS is capable of providing bindery services used in the bindery-based
NetWare network operating systems. This allows for an easier and more flexible
transition of bindery-based NetWare servers, utilities, and client software to NDS.
Furthermore, NDS provides centralized management of your bindery-based server
and resources in the network.
Future-Looking The functionality that defines how the Directory tree is constructed can be modified
and expanded to suit your present and future needs. If the default definitions do not
meet your needs, you can create an entirely new set of definitions or make
modifications to parts of the existing definitions.
Table 2-1 Features and Benefits Provided by NetWare Directory Services
Feature Benefit