Configuring the number of referrals the LDAP service can return

When the LDAP service uses secondary directories through directory assistance, there are circumstances where it cannot adequately service a client's read (search, compare) or write (add, modify, modify DN) request and may return a referral to the client. A referral is a redirection in the form of a URL to another LDAP server that might be able to service the client requesting.

The LDAP service will attempt to return a referral under these conditions when directory assistance is configured to serve one or more secondary directories through the LDAP service.

  • If a read (search or compare) operation cannot be found in either the primary or any of the secondary IBM® Domino® directories, and there is a secondary LDAP directory, a referral to the secondary LDAP directory will be returned. The client can then chose to "chase" the referral by redirecting the operation to the referred server. The Domino® LDAP service will not internally chase the referral on behalf of the requestor.
  • If a write (add, modify, or modify DN) operation is targeted for a remote secondary Domino® directory, a referral is returned to the Admin server, if the Admin server can be discovered. If the Admin server cannot be discovered, the referral is returned to the Domino server on which the secondary Domino® directory resides. There is no guarantee that the referral points to a server with a running LDAP task. All writes targeted for an LDAP secondary directory will result in a referral to the LDAP secondary directory.

By default, the LDAP service can return one referral to a client. To configure the number of referrals the LDAP service running on any server in a domain can return to LDAP clients:

  1. From the Domino® Administrator, open the server that runs the LDAP service, or a server in the same domain as the one that runs the LDAP service.
  2. Click Configuration.
  3. In the navigation pane, expand Directory, then LDAP, and then select Settings.
  4. Do one of the following:
    • If you see the message Unable to locate a Server Configuration document for this domain. Would you like to create one now? click Yes, then click the LDAP tab on the document that is created.
    • If you do not see this prompt, click Edit LDAP Settings.
  5. Next to Maximum number of referrals, specify the maximum number of referrals the LDAP service can return to a client.
  6. Save and Close.