Red Hat Directory Server 8.0 Administrator's Guide

example, if the database has the suffix dc=example,dc=com, the first entry in the directory
must be dn: dc=example,dc=com.
For information on suffixes, see the "Suffix" parameter described in the Directory Server
Configuration, Command, and File Reference.
3. Make sure that an entry representing a branch point in the LDIF file is placed before the
entries to create under that branch.
For example, to place an entry in a people and a group subtree, create the branch point for
those subtrees before creating entries within those subtrees.
NOTE
The LDIF file is read in order, so parent entries must be listed before the child
entries.
4. Create the directory from the LDIF file using one of the following methods:
• Initializing the database through the Directory Server Console. Use this method if there is a
small database to import (less than 10,000 entries). See Section 1.1, “Importing a
Database from the Console”.
WARNING
This method is destructive and will erase any existing data in the suffix.
• ldif2db or ldif2db.pl command-line utility. Use this method if there is a large database to
import (more than 10,000 entries). See Section 1.3.1, “Importing Using the ldif2db
Command-Line Script”.
• ldif2db cannot be used if the server is running.
• ldif2db.pl can only be used if the server is running.
WARNING
This method is destructive and will erase any existing data in the suffix.
• ldapmodify command-line utility with the -a parameter. Use this method if a new subtree is
being added to an existing database or there is existing data in the suffix which should not
be deleted. Unlike the other methods for creating the directory from an LDIF file, Directory
Defining Directories Using LDIF
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