resolv.ldap File Format for TCP/IP

Purpose

Defines Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server information for ldap mechanism used by local resolver subroutines.

Description

The /etc/resolv.ldap file specifies the IP address of the LDAP server, which contains the name resolution database. This database is used by the local resolver subroutines to resolve symbolic host names into Internet email addresses. LDAP server specifications are obtained from resolv.ldap file only for the ldap mechanism.

However, if the resolv.ldap file does not exist, then the resolver subroutines continue searching their direct paths, which may include searching through a DNS server, the /etc/hosts file, or the NIS hosts map. In addition to the default paths, the resolver subroutines may also use the /etc/irs.conf file, the /etc/netsvc.conf file, or the NSORDER environment variable.

The resolv.ldap file contains one ldapserver entry, which is required, and one searchbase entry, which is optional. The ldapserver entry specifies the Internet email address of the LDAP server to the resolver subroutines. The entry must take the following format:

ldapserver Address [ Port ]

The Address parameter specifies the dotted decimal address of the LDAP server. The Port parameter is optional; it specifies the port number that the LDAP server is listening on. If you do not specify the Port parameter, then it defaults to 389.

The searchbase optional entry specifies the base DN (distinguished name) of the name resolution database on the LDAP server. This entry must take the following format:

searchbase baseDN

The baseDN parameter specifies the starting point for the name resolution database on the LDAP server. If you do not define this entry, then the searchbase entry defaults to cn=hosts.

Example

To define an LDAP server with an IP address 192.9.201.1, that listens on the port 636, and with a searchbase cn=hosttab, enter the following:

ldapserver 192.9.201.1 636
searchbase cn=hosttab

Files