Ability to describe the DSGW's features. Ability to access the DSGW.
Factoid: Actually, two gateway instances are installed along with the Directory Server: the default gateway and Directory Express.
Try This: Open a second Navigator window and enter the administrative URL for your DSGW. Click the Netscape Directory Server Gateway link under the Services for Administrators heading. Leave this DSGW open for the next section where you will add some users.
The DSGW is one of the best tools for verifying successful installation and trouble-shooting simple problems with the Directory Server.
Chapter 1 of Directory Server Gateway Customization Guide.
| # Directory Server Gateway (DSGW) ### Background The Directory Server gateway is an LDAP client which lets you access the Directory Server with any browser that supports JavaScript. Specifically, the DSGW lets you: Search the directory using one of two types of searches. Smart search provides an intelligent searching mechanism that attempts to perform the correct search based on the type of data included in the search. Perform advanced searches for values contained in specific entry attributes, such as a telephone number or e-mail address. Create new entries in the directory. Typically, this feature is reserved only for users who have authenticated properly to the Directory Server, and who have been granted write permissions by the directory administrator. Modify existing entries. Modification lets you change existing values to entry attributes, delete the entire entry, rename the entry, or change the password for the entry. Typically this feature is reserved only for users who have authenticated properly to the gateway. Authenticate to the Directory Server. Authentication is necessary only if your directory manager has set the Directory Server access control in such a way as to require authentication. Although the exact authentication requirements will differ from site to site, typically you will need to authenticate only if you are adding, modifying, or deleting an entry in the directory. In release 4.0 of the Netscape Directory Server, many gateway instances can be defined on one HTTP server, providing access to any number of directory servers. A gateway instance consists of: A `.conf` file (`nshome/serverId/dsgw/context)`defining the context for gateway instance. For instance, `nshome/serverId/dsgw/context`/`dsgw.conf` defines the dsgw gateway instance. An HTML directory (`nshome/serverId/dsgw/html)`for object class templates and other files containing gateway directives used to communicate with the LDAP server. A configuration directory (`nshome/serverId/dsgw/config)`for directory search, directory authentication, language files, and gateway scripts. ### Installation The DSGW is automatically installed as part of the standard Directory Server installation process. In previous versions of the Directory Server you had to do this manually. Two gateway instances are installed during directory server installation: the default gateway and Directory Express. The default gateway provides a standard search form, an advanced search form, a directory server authentication form, and a form for adding and modifying entries. Directory Express is a basic directory lookup tool that can be used out of the box. Both gateways are configured to use the suffix set when the Directory server was configured, and non-SSL (Secure Socket Layer) communications. ### DSGW Files The DSGW software is located in your nshome directory; the default location is: `nshome/serverId/dsgw` The configuration file for the default gateway is at: `nshome/serverId/dsgw/context/dsgw.conf` ### Accessing The Directory Server Gateway All you have to do to access the DSGW is enter the administrative URL of the Directory Server in the location window of your web browser. To get to a gateway, enter the following URL: `http://adminhost:adminport` An example would be: `http://mars.mcom.com:17261` This is really easy if you remembered to write down the administrative port number during installation process. If you don't know the administrative port number, you have the following choices: Examine the `install.inf` file in the `nshome/serverId/setup` directory (if it was saved during installation). Look for the `port=` statement. Uninstall then reinstall the Directory Server and record the port number. When you successfully enter the administrative URL you should see a web page that looks like this: If you click on the link for Netscape Directory Server Gateway you'll go to a page with the main DSGW interface. This page gives you 4 easy-to-use options: Standard Search. Examines what you type and automatically selects one or more methods for searching the directory. Advanced Search. Lets you specify exactly what you are looking for, what attribute you wish to search for, and what type of matching you wish to allow. New Entry. Allows you to create new entries in the directory. Depending on how the system administrator has set up your directory you may need to be granted special permission to add new entries. Authenticate. You'll need to authenticate yourself before you can modify or add entries to the directory. If your system administrator requires it, you may also need to authenticate before searching the directory.

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