NetWare Directory Services

2-20
Understanding NetWare Directory Services
Context and Names
Context and Names
In NetWare Directory Services (NDS), context refers to the location of an
object in the Directory tree. Context is important because NDS objects are
identified by their relative location in the Directory tree.
The complete context, or path, from an object to the [Root] of the Directory
tree in addition to the object’s common name forms an object’s
Distinguished Name (also called the complete name). The context, or path,
from an object to another object in the Directory tree forms that object’s
Relative Distinguished Name (RDN).
For example, in Figure 2-5, the following is true:
• The context for the User object ESAYERS is
OU=DESIGN.OU=LONDON.OU=MFG.O=ACME.C=US
• The Distinguished Name for User object ESAYERS is
CN=ESAYERS.OU=DESIGN.OU=LONDON.OU=MFG.O=ACME.C=US.
• The context for the User object RJONES is OU=HR.OU=HQ.O=ACME.C=US
• The Distinguished Name for the User object RJONES is
CN=RJONES.OU=HR.OU=HQ.O=ACME.C=US.
• The Relative Distinguished Name for the User object RJONES in relation to the
Organizational Unit SALES is CN=RJONES.OU=HR.OU=HQ.OU=SALES.