RFC 3254 (rfc3254) - Page 1 of 11
Definitions for talking about directories
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group H. Alvestrand
Request for Comments: 3254 Cisco Systems
Category: Informational April 2002
Definitions for talking about directories
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2002). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
When discussing systems for making information accessible through the
Internet in standardized ways, it may be useful if the people who are
discussing it have a common understanding of the terms they use.
For example, a reference to this document would give one the power to
agree that the DNS (Domain Name System) is a global lookup repository
with perimeter integrity and loose, converging consistency. On the
other hand, a LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directory
server is a local, centralized repository with both lookup and search
capability.
This document discusses one group of such systems which is known
under the term, "directories".
1. Introduction and basic terms
We suggest using the following terms for the remainder of this
document:
- Information: Facts and ideas which can be represented (encoded) as
data in various forms.
- Data: Information in a specific physical representation, usually a
sequence of symbols that have meaning; especially a representation
of information that can be processed or produced by a computer.
(From [SEC].)
- Repository: An amount of data that is accessible through one or
more access methods.
Alvestrand Informational