Rename an entry and choose its parent
05A relative distinguished name, or RDN, is the entry’s name within its parent. modrdn and moddn are two changetype spellings for the Modify DN operation.
A third case additionally supplies newsuperior: ou=Games,dc=example. The new entry name is cn=River under that existing parent. This is a requested move within the illustrative directory, not a promise that any server-to-server move will work.
Source for this drawing: RFC 2849 · Read RFC source: Modify DN grammar and example 6 ↗
New to this? Start hereA quick picture + helpful background
A message needs an address.
Think of a packet as a small addressed envelope. Devices pass it onward; transport protocols decide what delivery promises an application gets.
Helpful first, if these ideas are unfamiliar
These pictures are analogies to help you learn. The linked RFC explains the actual rules.
Terms in this drawing
Related RFCs and changes
“Updates” changes part of an earlier RFC. “Obsoletes” replaces it. This list shows selected related documents.
The verified erratum explains 0 as retaining the old RDN values and 1 as deleting them. RFC4511 §4.9 clarifies that values forming the new RDN are retained.
Read the updated RFC section ↗newrdn: supplies the new relative name. deleteoldrdn: is required: 0 retains old naming values as ordinary attributes; 1 removes old values that are not part of the new RDN.
- newrdn: supplies the new relative name. deleteoldrdn: is required: 0 retains old naming values as ordinary attributes; 1 removes old values that are not part of the new RDN.
- Keeping an old naming value does not preserve a second entry at the old DN. The operation renames the existing entry and can move it with optional newsuperior:.
- The new parent must exist. Schema, authorization, name conflicts and server capabilities can cause failure; arbitrary cross-server or cross-naming-context moves are not guaranteed. Simple cn/parent examples omit full DN escaping.
Fictional directory data. Fragments illustrate the format; no file, URL or directory is accessed. Import outcomes still depend on schema, permissions and server support.
Read the RFC section ↗