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Java Naming and Directory Interface(TM).
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Overview of JNDI
Directory and LDAP Packages
Directory Package
The
javax.naming
package to provide functionality for accessing directory services
in addition to naming services.
This package allows applications to retrieve
associated with
objects stored in the directory and to search for objects using specified
attributes.
The Directory Context
The
DirContextinterface represents a directory context.
DirContext also behaves as a naming context by extending the
getAttributes()to retrieve the attributes associated with a directory entry
(for which you supply the name). Attributes are modified using
modifyAttributes()method. Other overloaded forms of
search()support more sophisticated search filters.
LDAP Package
The
javax.naming.ldap package contains classes and interfaces for using features that are
specific to the LDAP v3 that are not already
covered by the more generic
javax.naming.directory package.
In fact, most JNDI applications that use the LDAP will find the javax.naming.directory
package sufficient and will not need to use the javax.naming.ldap
package at all. This package is primarily for those applications that need
to use "extended" operations, controls, or unsolicited notifications.
- "Extended" Operation
- In addition to specifying well defined operations such as search and
modify, the LDAP v3 (RFC 2251) specifies
a way to transmit yet-to-be defined operations between the LDAP client and
the server. These operations are called "extended" operations. An
"extended" operation may be defined by a standards organization such as the
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) or by a vendor.
- Controls
- The LDAP v3 allows any request or
response to be augmented by yet-to-be defined modifiers, called controls
. A control sent with a request is a request control and a control
sent with a response is a response control . A control may be defined
by a standards organization such as the IETF or by a vendor. Request controls
and response controls are not necessarily paired, that is, there need not
be a response control for each request control sent, and vice versa.
- Unsolicited Notifications
- In addition to the normal request/response style of interaction between
the client and server, the LDAP v3 also specifies
unsolicited notifications--messages that are sent from the
server to the client asynchronously and not in response to any client request.
The LDAP Context
The
LdapContextinterface represents a context for performing "extended"
operations, sending request controls, and receiving response controls. Examples
of how to use these features are described in the JNDI Tutorial's
Controls and Extensions lesson.
