RFC 1837 (rfc1837) - Page 1 of 7
Representing Tables and Subtrees in the X
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group S. Kille
Request for Comments: 1837 ISODE Consortium
Category: Experimental August 1995
Representing Tables and Subtrees in the X.500 Directory
Status of this Memo
This memo defines an Experimental Protocol for the Internet
community. This memo does not specify an Internet standard of any
kind. Discussion and suggestions for improvement are requested.
Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This document defines techniques for representing two types of
information mapping in the OSI Directory [1].
1. Mapping from a key to a value (or set of values), as might be
done in a table lookup.
2. Mapping from a distinguished name to an associated value (or
values), where the values are not defined by the owner of the
entry. This is achieved by use of a directory subtree.
These techniques were developed for supporting MHS use of Directory
[2], but are specified separately as they have more general
applicability.
1. Representing Flat Tables
Before considering specific function, a general purpose technique for
representing tables in the directory is introduced. The schema for
this is given in Figure 1.
A table can be considered as an unordered set of key to (single or
multiple) value mappings, where the key cannot be represented as a
global name. There are four reasons why this may occur:
1. The object does not have a natural global name.
2. The object can only be named effectively in the context of being
a key to a binding. In this case, the object will be given a
natural global name by the table.
Kille Experimental