LDAP supplies functions for updating the directory, but more commonly, for locating specific entries within a specified portion of the directory. Because an LDAP directory is typically searched more often than it is written, the system improves response time by not implementing the complex transaction protection functions employed by more sensitive databases.
These topics describe the LDAP server daemon, slapd, along with the command line and graphical tools used to configure it, and the contents of the configuration file. Also described are the slurpd information replication daemon, and the tools used to create and administer LDAP databases.