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From: ala@hpindda.HP.COM (Alyson Abramowitz)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.iso
Subject: Re: X.500 Directories : Does NIST mandate recursive DNs ?
Message-ID: <5560049@hpindda.HP.COM>
Date: 2 Dec 89 04:14:13 GMT
References: <8025@ditmela.oz>
Organization: HP Information Networks, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 19

I don't believe the 1989 Agreements will require any attribute which
has the characteristics you describe to be supported.  In addition,
it is unclear to me that the attribute you describe is recursive.

The Directory only uses a Distinguished Name as part of an attribute
to continue name resolution under one circumstance:  an alias.  It is
well known that an alias can be recursive.  There is nothing to
prevent that in the Directory.  It is fairly easy to check for in the
case of an alias pointing back to the same entry.  It is much harder
when the point back actually occurs down the chain a bit.  However,
otherwise, there shouldn't be a problem.  

An attribute of type Distinguished Name is not necessarily recursive.
The DN of the entry containing the information could be A.B.C and the
attribute of type DN in it could contain the value D.E.F.  This is
not recursive just because the components of the attribute are of the
same type.

BTW,  X.500 is called The Directory not Directories.


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