Lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) directory server cache mechanism and method

A method for searching a relational database from a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service generating filter-based queries, comprising the steps of:

• in response to a search query to the relational database:
• storing in a first cache a set of identifiers indexed by a filter key;
• storing in a second cache directory entries corresponding to the set of identifiers;
• and
• in response to subsequent issuance of the search query, using the identifiers and the directory entries in lieu of accessing the relational database.

A method for caching search results retrieved from a relational database in response to a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service generating filter-based queries, comprising the steps of:

• in response to an LDAP search query to the relational database:
• storing in a first cache a set of identifiers indexed by a filter key;
• and
• storing in a second cache directory entries corresponding to the set of identifiers.

A directory service, comprising:

• a directory organized as a naming hierarchy having a plurality of entries each represented by a unique identifier;
• a relational database management system having a backing store for storing directory data;
• means for searching the directory, comprising:
• a first cache;
• a second cache;
• means for storing in the first cache a set of identifiers indexed by a filter key;
• and
• means for storing in the second cache directory entries corresponding to the set of identifiers.

In a directory service having a directory organized as a naming hierarchy, the hierarchy including a plurality of entries each represented by a unique identifier, the improvement comprising:

• a relational database management system having a backing store for storing directory data;
• means for searching the directory, comprising:
• a first cache;
• a second cache;
• means for storing in the first cache a set of identifiers indexed by a filter key;
• and
• means for storing in the second cache directory entries corresponding to the set of identifiers.