To be more manageable, the NetWare Directory database is divided into smaller portions called partitions. Partitions are created by default when you install NetWare 4 on a server in a new context in the Directory tree.
Each partition consists of a container object, all objects contained in it, and data about those objects. Partitions do not include any information about the file system or the directories and files contained there.
The root object (at the top of the tree) is included in the first partition created.
The tree of partitions is transparent to Directory users (unless they are running Partition Manager); users usually see only a global tree of Directory objects.
To optimize access to different areas of the Directory, each partition can be replicated and stored at many locations.
Partition replication improves access and provides the Directory with fault tolerance. Since a partition can be replicated at several locations, damage to one of the replicas does not need to interrupt access to the partition information.