Red Hat Directory Server B.08.00 for HP-UX Release Notes and Supplemental Instructions

information on LDIF files, see Chapter 4 "Populating Directory Databases" in the Red Hat Directory
Server 8.0 Administrator's Guide.
You can use the following methods to import LDIF files:
• The import feature in the Directory Server Console
• The ldapmodify -a command-line utility
• The ldif2db.pl script for fast online import
• The ldif2db command-line script
• The ldif2ldap command-line script
The ldapmodify tool is located in the /opt/dirsrv/bin directory. The ldif2db.pl, ldif2db
and ldif2ldap scripts are located in the /opt/dirsrv/slapd-instance directories.
Directory Server Console Import
Importing LDIF files from the Directory Server Console using the import command is the
simplest method because you fill in blanks and respond to prompts to form the appropriate
request. This method builds an ldapmodify -a command. This method is appropriate only
for relatively small LDIF files, up to about 5000 entries, because of the amount of time it takes
ldapmodify to complete imports. You can also overwrite the existing data in a database from
the Directory Server Console, but you must log in as the Directory Manager to initialize a database.
The ldapmodify -a Command
The ldapmodify -a command line has an added benefit if you want to import data using
scripts. Although you must enter the correct command line with the correct options, you can use
a script to duplicate the import actions. The same performance issues and recommendations
exist as described in the Directory Server Console method.
NOTE: When you use the ldapmodify -a command or the Directory Server Console import
methods, existing database information, including user and configuration data, is not removed
and rebuilt. However, the ldif2db options remove and rebuild database information.
The ldif2db.pl Online Import Tool
This is the fast, online import utility in Red Hat Directory Server 8.0. It is mainly used by the
replication procedure to quickly initialize remote consumers. This import method overwrites
your entire database while the server is running.
The ldif2db Script
The ldif2db script overwrites the data in a database that you specify. It provides functionality
similar to the ldif2db.pl command.
NOTE: The Directory Server requires you to shut down the server instance and use the absolute
path and file name of the LDIF file that you want to import into the database if you choose to
use theldif2db command-line script.
The ldif2ldap Script
The ldif2ldap script is a wrapper to the ldapmodify -a command and appends the LDIF
file through LDAP. Using this script, you import data to all directory databases at the same time.
The server must be running to import databases using the ldif2ldap script. You must specify
the DN of the administrative user, the password of the administrative user, and the absolute
path and file name of the LDIF file you want to import.
For more information on using these scripts, see the Red Hat Directory Server 8.0 Command,
Configuration and File Reference.
32 Supplemental Information for Administering Red Hat Directory Server 8.0