---
title: Working with the watch-entry tool
description: The PingDirectory server provides a watch-entry tool that demonstrates replication or synchronization latency by watching an LDAP entry for changes.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_watch_entry_tool
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_watch_entry_tool.html
revdate: April 29, 2024
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
  example: Example:
---

# Working with the watch-entry tool

The PingDirectory server provides a `watch-entry` tool that demonstrates replication or synchronization latency by watching an LDAP entry for changes.

## About this task

You can directly modify attributes with the `watch-entry` tool.

|   |                                                                                       |
| - | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | If the LDAP entry changes, the background of modified attributes will briefly be red. |

## Steps

* Run the `watch-entry` tool.

  ### Example:

  This example connects to `server.example.com` as `uid=admin,dc=example,dc=com` and watches entry `uid=kate,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com` for changes.

  ```shell
  $ bin/watch-entry --hostname server.example.com --port 389 \
    --bindDN uid=admin,dc=example,dc=com --bindPassword password \
    --entryDN uid=user,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
  ```