Concepts: About Directory Domains


A directory service acts as an intermediary between application and system software processes, which need information about users and resources, and the directory domains that store the information. In Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server, Open Directory provides directory services. Open Directory can access information in one directory domain or several directory domains.

A directory domain stores information in a specialized database that is optimized to handle a great many requests for information and to find and retrieve information quickly.

Processes running on Mac OS X computers can use the Open Directory services to save information in directory domains. For example, when you create a user account with Workgroup Manager, it has Open Directory store user name and other account information in a directory domain. Of course you can then review user account information with Workgroup Manager, and it has Open Directory retrieve the user information from a directory domain.

Other application and system software processes can also use the user account information stored in directory domains. When someone attempts to log in to a Mac OS X computer, the login process uses Open Directory services to validate the user name and password.