HP-UX Directory Server 8.1 Administrator (766147-001, March 2014)

6 Managing Access Control
HP-UX Directory Server allows you to control access to your directory. This chapter describes the
how to implement access control. To take full advantage of the power and flexibility of access
control, while you are in the planning phase for your directory deployment, define an access
control strategy as an integral part of your overall security policy.
Topics include:
• “Access control principles” (page 233)
• “Default ACIs” (page 235)
• “Creating ACIs manually” (page 236)
• “Bind rules” (page 243)
• “Creating ACIs from the console” (page 255)
• “Viewing ACIs” (page 263)
• “Checking access rights on entries (get effective rights)” (page 263)
• “Logging access control information” (page 273)
• “Access control usage examples” (page 273)
• “Advanced access control: Using macro ACIs” (page 286)
• “Access control and replication” (page 290)
• “Compatibility with earlier releases” (page 290)
Access control principles
The mechanism that defines user access is called access control. When the server receives a request,
it uses the authentication information provided by the user in the bind operation and the access
control instructions (ACIs) defined in the server to allow or deny access to directory information.
The server can allow or deny permissions for actions on entries like read, write, search, and
compare. The permission level granted to a user may depend on the authentication information
provided.
Access control in Directory Server is flexible enough to provide very precise rules on when the
ACIs are applicable:
• For the entire directory, a subtree of the directory, specific entries in the directory (including
entries defining configuration tasks), or a specific set of entry attributes.
• For a specific user, all users belonging to a specific group or role, or all users of the directory.
• For a specific location such as an IP address or a DNS name.
ACI structure
Access control instructions are stored in the directory as attributes of entries. The aci attribute is
an operational attribute; it is available for use on every entry in the directory, regardless of whether
it is defined for the object class of the entry. It is used by the Directory Server to evaluate what
rights are granted or denied when it receives an LDAP request from a client. The aci attribute is
returned in an ldapsearch operation if specifically requested.
The three main parts of an ACI statement are:
• Target
• Permission
• Bind Rule
Access control principles 233