NSDB-SIMPLE-NCE(8) System Manager's Manual NSDB-SIMPLE-NCE(8)
NAME
nsdb-simple-nce - Create a simple NSDB Container Entry
SYNOPSIS
nsdb-simple-nce [-?d] [-D binddn] [-l nsdbname] [-r nsdbport] parent-dn
INTRODUCTION
RFC 5716 introduces the Federated File System (FedFS, for short). FedFS is an extensible standardized mechanism by which system adminis-
trators construct a coherent namespace across multiple file servers using file system referrals. For further details, see fedfs(7).
The bulk of FedFS junction information in a FedFS domain is stored on one or more LDAP servers. These servers are known as namespace data-
bases, or NSDBs, for short.
FedFS-enabled file servers and clients access the information stored on NSDBs via standard LDAP queries. FedFS-enabled file servers use
these queries to resolve FedFS junctions. FedFS administrators use these queries to manage information about file sets contained in a
FedFS domain name space.
DESCRIPTION
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command is part of a collection of low-level single-use programs that are intended for testing the NSDB protocol or
for use in scripts. This command is an easy way to turn a standard LDAP server into an NSDB by creating an NSDB Container Entry in the
server's Directory Information Tree (or DIT, for short).
The top of the DIT on an LDAP server has one or more naming contexts. Some LDAP server implementations call these contexts root suffixes.
An LDAP server's naming contexts are easy for clients to locate with a well-known search query. All LDAP entries on that server are con-
tained under naming contexts.
The LDAP entry under which all other FedFS-related entries reside is known as the NSDB Container Entry (or NCE). The NCE can be a naming
context entry, or it can be located somewhere below a naming context. The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command adds an NSDB Container Entry with a
distinguished name that can be created without much prior knowledge of the server's DIT.
Once this entry is created, the nsdb-simple-nce(8) command automatically adds the new entry's DN to the parent naming context so that NSDB
clients can find it. The result is a ready-to-use NSDB.
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command establishes an NSDB quickly and without fuss. A more sophisticated configuration may be established using
standard LDAP tools and the nsdb-update-nci(8) command. This might be necessary when preparing an existing LDAP server with a large pre-
existing DIT for use as an NSDB.
This command has one positional parameter which specifies the distinguished name of the parent entry of the new NSDB Container Entry.
OPTIONS
-d, --debug
Enables debugging messages during operation.
-?, --help
Displays nsdb-simple-nce(8) version information and a usage message on stderr.
-D, --binddn=bind-distinguished-name
Specifies a distinguished name of an entity used to bind to the LDAP server where the NSDB resides. If the --binddn option is not
specified, the value of the FEDFS_NSDB_ADMIN environment variable is consulted. If this variable is not set, the NSDB connection
parameter database is searched for this DN. If none of these is specified, or if this entity does not have permission to modify
this area of the server's DIT, the nsdb-simple-nce(8) command fails.
-l, --nsdbname=NSDB-hostname
Specifies the hostname of the NSDB where the target NCE should reside. If the --nsdbname option is not specified, the value of the
FEDFS_NSDB_HOST environment variable is consulted. If the variable is not set and the --nsdbname option is not specified, the nsdb-
simple-nce(8) command fails.
-r, --nsdbport=NSDB-port
Specifies the IP port of the NSDB where the target NCE should reside. If the --nsdbport option is not specified, the value of the
FEDFS_NSDB_PORT environment variable is consulted. The default value if the variable is not set is 389.
EXIT CODES
The NSDB returns a value that reflects the success of the requested operation.
FEDFS_OK
The LDAP modify request succeeded.
FEDFS_ERR_ACCESS
The bound entity does not have permission to perform the requested operation.
FEDFS_ERR_INVAL
One of the arguments was not valid.
FEDFS_ERR_SVRFAULT
An unanticipated non-protocol error occurred.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_ROUTE
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command was unable to find a route to the specified NSDB.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_DOWN
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command determined that the specified NSDB was down.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_CONN
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command was unable to establish a connection with the specified NSDB.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_AUTH
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command was unable to authenticate and establish a secure connection with the specified NSDB.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_LDAP
A non-specific LDAP error occurred on the connection between the nsdb-simple-nce(8) command and specified NSDB.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_LDAP_VAL
An LDAP error occurred on the connection between the nsdb-simple-nce(8) command and specified NSDB. The specific error may be dis-
played on the command line.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_RESPONSE
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command received a malformed response from the specified NSDB.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_FAULT
An unanticipated error related to the specified NSDB occurred.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_PARAMS
The local NSDB connection parameter database does not have any connection parameters on record for the specified NSDB.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_LDAP_REFERRAL
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command received an LDAP referral that it was unable to follow.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_LDAP_REFERRAL_VAL
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command received an LDAP referral that it was unable to follow. A specific error may be displayed on the
command line.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_LDAP_REFERRAL_NOTFOLLOWED
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command received an LDAP referral that it chose not to follow, either because the local implementation does
not support following LDAP referrals or LDAP referral following is disabled.
FEDFS_ERR_NSDB_PARAMS_LDAP_REFERRAL
The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command received an LDAP referral that it chose not to follow because the local NSDB connection parameter
database had no connection parameters for the NSDB targeted by the LDAP referral.
EXAMPLES
Suppose you are the FedFS administrator of the example.net FedFS domain and that you want to make the LDAP server ldap.example.net into an
NSDB. Ensure the LDAP server has the FedFS schema installed. The naming context "dc=example,dc=net" must exist, and must have an entry
associated with it. Then you might use:
$ nsdb-simple-nce -l ldap.example.net -D cn=Manager dc=example,dc=net
Enter NSDB password:
Successfully created simple NCE
The distinguished name of the new NCE is "ou=fedfs,dc=example,dc=net". The naming context "dc=example,dc=net" is updated to refer NSDB
clients to the "ou=fedfs,dc=example,dc=net" entry.
To see the new NCE, use nsdb-nces(8).
SECURITY
LDAP naming contexts are typically writable only by administrative entities. The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command must bind as an administrative
entity to perform this operation. The nsdb-simple-nce(8) command asks for a password on stdin. Standard password blanking techniques are
used to obscure the password on the user's terminal.
The target LDAP server must be registered in the local NSDB connection parameter database. The connection security mode listed in the NSDB
connection parameter database for the target LDAP server is used during this operation. See nsdbparams(8) for details on how to register
an NSDB in the local NSDB connection parameter database.
SEE ALSO
fedfs(7), nsdb-nces(8), nsdb-update-nce(8), nsdbparams(8)
RFC 5716 for FedFS requirements and overview
RFC 4510 for an introduction to LDAP
COLOPHON
This page is part of the fedfs-utils package. A description of the project and information about reporting bugs can be found at
http://wiki.linux-nfs.org/wiki/index.php/FedFsUtilsProject.
AUTHOR
Chuck Lever <chuck.lever@oracle.com>
3 February 2014 NSDB-SIMPLE-NCE(8)