Using a hashing mechanism to select data entries in a directory for use with requested operations

In association with a data processing system that includes one or more servers, one or more clients and a partitionable directory contained in a database, a computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for selectively processing data entries that reside in the directory, wherein said computer program product comprises:

• instructions for generating a request to perform an operation on each data entry in a specified group of intended entries, wherein the request includes a hashing control index that uniquely identifies each entry of said specified group, and excludes all other entries;
• and
• instructions for filtering the request using the hashing control index specified in the request such that said requested operation is only applied to data entries in said directory that are identified by said specified hashing control index, wherein said hashing control index included in the request represents a target partition value, a number of partitions, and a value that indicates a sub-tree Distinguished Name of a target partition split point or target partition base.

In association with a data processing system that includes one or more servers, one or more clients and a partitionable directory contained in a database, an apparatus for selectively processing data entries that reside in the directory, wherein said apparatus comprises a data processor coupled to a memory and configured to execute instructions in the memory to perform steps of:

• generating a request to perform an operation on each data entry in a specified group of intended entries, wherein the request includes a hashing control index that uniquely identifies each entry of said specified group, and excludes all other entries;
• and
• filtering the request using the hashing control index specified in the request such that said requested operation is only applied to data entries in said directory that are identified by said specified hashing control index, wherein said hashing control index included in the request represents a target partition value, a number of partitions, and a value that indicates a sub-tree Distinguished Name of a target partition split point or target partition base.