DIXIE Protocol Specification
RFC 1249
Network Working Group T. Howes
Request for Comments: 1249 M. Smith
B. Beecher
University of Michigan
August 1991
DIXIE Protocol Specification
Status of this Memo
This RFC defines a mechanism by which TCP/UDP based clients can
access OSI Directory Service without the overhead of the ISO
transport and presentation protocols required to implement full-blown
DAP. This memo provides information for the Internet community. It
does not specify any standard. Distribution of this memo is
unlimited.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .............................................. 2
1.1 History .................................................. 2
2. Protocol .................................................. 2
2.1 Header ................................................... 3
2.2 Operations ............................................... 4
2.2.1 Read ................................................... 4
2.2.1.1 Read Request ......................................... 4
2.2.1.2 Read Reply ........................................... 4
2.2.2 Search ................................................. 5
2.2.2.1 Search Request ....................................... 5
2.2.2.2 Search Reply ......................................... 5
2.2.3 List ................................................... 5
2.2.3.1 List Request ......................................... 5
2.2.3.2 List Reply ........................................... 5
2.2.4 Modify ................................................. 5
2.2.4.1 Modify Request ....................................... 6
2.2.4.2 Modify Reply ......................................... 6
2.2.5 Modify RDN ............................................. 6
2.2.5.1 Modify RDN Request ................................... 6
2.2.5.2 Modify RDN Reply ..................................... 6
2.2.6 Add .................................................... 6
2.2.6.1 Add Request .......................................... 7
2.2.6.2 Add Reply ............................................ 7
2.2.7 Remove ................................................. 7
2.2.7.1 Remove Request ....................................... 7
2.2.7.2 Remove Reply ......................................... 7
2.2.8 Bind ................................................... 7
2.2.8.1 Bind Request ......................................... 7
Howes, Smith, & Beecher [Page 1]
RFC 1249 DIXIE August 1991
2.2.8.2 Bind Reply ........................................... 8
2.3 Operation Code Summary ................................... 8
2.4 Return Code Summary ...................................... 8
3. References ................................................ 9
4. Available Implementations ................................. 9
5. Security Considerations.................................... 9
6. Authors' Addresses ........................................ 10
1. Introduction
OSI Directory Service defines a powerful mechanism for storing and
retrieving information about objects, and for arranging those objects
in a hierarchical structure. Many types of objects and information
can be stored in The Directory, including white pages information,
application information, service information, etc. The OSI protocol
defined to allow access to this information is the Directory Access
Protocol (DAP). The DAP, being an OSI application-layer program, is
fairly heavy-weight and requires a substantial amount of computing
power and coding investment to implement.
The DIXIE protocol is designed for use by smaller hosts (e.g.,
Macintoshes and PCs) that do not have the computing power or
necessary software to implement a full OSI protocol stack. The DIXIE
protocol is also useful for any Internet application that wants a
simple interface to X.500 that requires very little coding
investment.
The basic idea behind DIXIE is the same as that described in RFC 1202
for the Directory Assistance Protocol. DIXIE offers both UDP and TCP
access to The Directory. While the Directory Assistance Protocol
exports something of a user interface, DIXIE provides a more direct
protocol translation.
1.1 History
The DIXIE protocol has evolved over time, slowly growing into the
protocol described by this document. Without an understanding of the
circumstances surrounding this evolution, the wisdom of some of the
DIXIE design decisions may not be apparent.
2. Protocol
This section describes the DIXIE protocol in detail. DIXIE follows a
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