Dynamic directory service

Abstract

In a network of computer nodes, a directory service provides both the physical location of directory information around the network and the directory information itself in a single data structure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for obtaining directory information, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of nodes interconnected by a network;    providing a directory service on the network by installing on each of the nodes a directory service program that allows directory information to be accessed by each of the nodes and that stores on one or more of the nodes a directory that includes both the directory information and information about the location of the directory information on the network; and    obtaining both the location information and the directory information by accessing the directory service.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically replicates directory information.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically replicates directory information based on accesses of the directory service by the nodes.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically replicates directory information based on available resources on the network.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically migrates directory information.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically migrates directory information based on accesses of the directory service by the nodes.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the directory service providing step further comprises installing the directory service program on each of the nodes and the directory service program automatically migrates directory information based on available resources on the network.  
     
     
         9 . A method for storing directory information, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of nodes interconnected by a network; and    storing on one or more of the nodes a data structure representative of both the directory information and information about the location of the directory information on the network.    
     
     
         10 . A system for accessing directory information, comprising: 
 a computer network;    a storage system for maintaining directory information; and    a plurality of computers, coupled to the network and the storage system, for accessing the storage system to obtain directory information;    wherein the storage system replicates and migrates directory information among two or more of the computers.