---
title: Creating mirror virtual attributes
description: Create a PingDirectory mirror virtual attribute with dsconfig to mirror values in the same or a referenced entry.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.1
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_create_mirror_virtual_attributes
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.1/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_create_mirror_virtual_attributes.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: 2026-08-19T00:00:00Z
page_aliases: ["pd_ds_create_mirror_virtual_attr_dsconfig_non_int.adoc", "pd_ds_create_mirror_vitual_attributes.adoc"]
section_ids:
  creating-a-mirror-virtual-attribute-using-dsconfig-in-non-interactive-mode: Creating a mirror virtual attribute using dsconfig in non-interactive mode
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
  result: Result:
---

# Creating mirror virtual attributes

PingDirectory server provides a feature to mirror the value of another attribute in the same entry or mirror the value of the same or a different attribute in an entry referenced by the original entry.

For example, consider a directory information tree (DIT) where users have a `manager` attribute with a value of the DN of the employee as follows.

```
dn: uid=apeters,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
objectClass: person
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
objectClass: organizationalPerson
objectClass: top
manager:uid=jdoe,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
uid: apeters
... (more attributes) ...
```

You can set up a mirror virtual attribute so that the returned value for the `managerName` virtual attribute can be the `cn` value of the entry referenced by the `manager` attribute.

```shell
$ bin/ldapsearch --baseDN dc=example,dc=com "(uid=apeters)" \
dn: uid=apeters,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com

objectClass: person
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
objectClass: organizationalPerson
objectClass: top
manager:uid=jdoe,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
managerName: John Doe
uid: apeters
... (more attributes not shown) ...
```

## Creating a mirror virtual attribute using dsconfig in non-interactive mode

Create a mirror virtual attribute using `dsconfig` in non-interactive command-line mode.

### About this task

The following example sets up the `managerName` virtual attribute introduced in the previous section:

### Steps

1. Update the schema to define the `managerName` attribute.

   You can optionally add the attribute to an object class.

   1. In a text editor, create a file with the following schema definition for the attribute.

      ```
      dn: cn=schema
      objectClass: top
      objectClass: ldapSubentry
      objectClass: subschema attributeTypes: ( 1.3.6.1.4.1.32473.3.1.9.4 NAME 'managerName'
        EQUALITY caseIgnoreMatch SUBSTR caseIgnoreSubstringsMatch SYNTAX 1.3.6.1.4.1.1466.115.121.1.44{256}
        X-ORIGIN 'PingDirectory Server Example' )
      ```

   2. Save the file as `98-myschema.ldif` in the `<server-root>/config/schema` folder.

2. Restart the PingDirectory server.

   ```shell
   $ bin/stop-server --restart
   ```

3. To create the virtual attribute, use `dsconfig`.

   ```shell
   $ bin/dsconfig create-virtual-attribute \
     --name "managerName" \
     --type mirror \
     --set "description:managerName from manager cn" \
     --set enabled:true \
     --set attribute-type:managerName \
     --set source-attribute:cn \
     --set source-entry-dn-attribute:manager
   ```

4. To verify the mirror virtual attribute, search for an entry.

   ```shell
   $ bin/ldapsearch --baseDN dc=example,dc=com "(uid=apeters)"
   ```

   #### Result:

   Your search results in the following.

   ```
   dn: uid=apeters,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
   ... (attributes) ...
   manager: uid=jdoe,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
   managerName: John Doe
   ```