UDB: Difference between revisions

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There are two UDB's:
There are two UDB's:


The "new" UDB uses PostgreSQL and OpenLDAP (server).
The New UDB uses PostgreSQL and OpenLDAP (server).


The "old" UDB uses custom software developed in-house running over NIS/SunYP. Eventually, it is hoped, this will go away and the "only" UDB will then be the new UDB.
The Old UDB uses custom software developed in-house running over NIS/SunYP. Eventually, it is hoped, this will go away and the "only" UDB will then be the new UDB.


== Making changes to the UDB ==
== Making changes to the UDB ==
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# CSE [[lab computer]]s, [[login server]]s and [[VLAB]] servers require a user name, a password, a numerical user ID ([[UID]]), a numerical group ID ([[GID]])) and a home directory location for a user to log in. UNSW's systems only provide the first two of these. The last three must be provided by the UDB for user logins to be possible.
# CSE [[lab computer]]s, [[login server]]s and [[VLAB]] servers require a user name, a password, a numerical user ID ([[UID]]), a numerical group ID ([[GID]])) and a home directory location for a user to log in. UNSW's systems only provide the first two of these. The last three must be provided by the UDB for user logins to be possible.
== See also ==
* [[User database, authentication and authorisation]]


[[Category:Pages needing work]]
[[Category:Pages needing work]]

Revision as of 11:55, 28 August 2023

UDB is an acronym for User Database. It refers to CSE databases whose primary, but not sole, purpose is to supplement staff and student information provided by UNSW to allow the information to be used to manage CSE IT resources.

There are two UDB's:

The New UDB uses PostgreSQL and OpenLDAP (server).

The Old UDB uses custom software developed in-house running over NIS/SunYP. Eventually, it is hoped, this will go away and the "only" UDB will then be the new UDB.

Making changes to the UDB

The primary method for making changes to the UDB is via the acc program. This is a command-line utility which can be used to view UDB content or add/modify content in the UDB.

Automated updates to the UDB

What is the UDB used for?

  • User logins
  • mlalias
  • Resource access and allocation (e.g., special-purpose server access, other access privileges, disk quota)

Why supplement?

  1. CSE lab computers, login servers and VLAB servers require a user name, a password, a numerical user ID (UID), a numerical group ID (GID)) and a home directory location for a user to log in. UNSW's systems only provide the first two of these. The last three must be provided by the UDB for user logins to be possible.

See also