FedFsInstallNsdbConnParams0.8

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Revision as of 19:43, 24 October 2012

Project: fedfs-utils

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Introduction

This article describes how to set up an NSDB connection parameter database. This database is used to store NSDB network location and security information on fileservers and FedFS administrative clients.

Before a fileserver can create and resolve FedFS junctions, or a FedFS administrative client can contact an NSDB, information about how to connect to the NSDB must be stored locally. This information consists of details about the NSDB's hostname and port number, possibly an x.509 certificate that can authenticate the NSDB, and other information. (Note: several of these parameters, such as the x.509 certificate, are not supported in fedfs-utils-0.8, but will be in a future release).

Setting up the NSDB connection parameters database is a simple step, but is a requirement for fileservers and administrative tools that connect to a FedFS domain's NSDB.

Create the database and add an NSDB

NSDBs are identified by their hostname and port number. If the port number isn't specified, 389 is assumed.

For example, suppose your NSDB will reside on the host nsdb.example.net, and it listens on the standard LDAP port. On your fileserver, start with this:

# nsdbparams update nsdb.example.net

This allows the fileserver to contact this LDAP server to resolve junctions. The fileserver will use in-the-clear network requests. The act of creating a record for the first NSDB automatically initializes the NSDB connection parameter database on your fileserver.

To see information about this NSDB's connection parameters, use:

# nsdbparams show nsdb.example.net

Each NSDB that your fileserver contacts must have an entry in the fileserver's NSDB connection parameters database. For example, a fileserver in a FedFS domain that employs a single NSDB typically has just one entry in its NSDB connection parameter database.

Additional parameters

There is some additional information that can be stored in a NSDB connection parameter database.

On your administrative hosts, it is convenient to specify the NSDB administrative DN and the NCE to use for administrative operations. If you do this, you don't need to specify these each time you invoke an NSDB administrative tool. Use the -D option to specify the admin DN, and the -e option to specify the default NCE. For example:

# nsdbparams update -D cn=Manager,cn=config -e ou=fedfs,dc=example,dc=net nsdb.example.net

These settings apply only to one NSDB.