---
title: Root DSE Backend
description: The Root DSE Backend contains the directory server root DSE.
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:configref:objects-root-dse-backend
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/configref/objects-root-dse-backend.html
section_ids:
  root_dse_backend_properties: Root DSE Backend properties
  basic_properties: Basic properties
  show-all-attributes: show-all-attributes
  show-subordinate-naming-contexts: show-subordinate-naming-contexts
---

# Root DSE Backend

The Root DSE Backend contains the directory server root DSE.

This is a special meta-backend that dynamically generates the root DSE entry for base-level searches and simply redirects to other backends for operations in other scopes.

## Root DSE Backend properties

You can use configuration expressions to set property values at startup time. For details, see [Property value substitution](expressions.html).

| Basic Properties                                                                                                  |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [show-all-attributes](#show-all-attributes) [show-subordinate-naming-contexts](#show-subordinate-naming-contexts) |

### Basic properties

Use the `--advanced` option to access advanced properties.

### show-all-attributes

|                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| *Synopsis*              | Indicates whether all attributes in the root DSE are to be treated like user attributes (and therefore returned to clients by default) regardless of the directory server schema configuration. |
| *Default value*         | None                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| *Allowed values*        | truefalse                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| *Multi-valued*          | No                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| *Required*              | Yes                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| *Admin action required* | None                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| *Advanced*              | No                                                                                                                                                                                              |
| *Read-only*             | No                                                                                                                                                                                              |

### show-subordinate-naming-contexts

|                         |                                                                                                                                                                       |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| *Synopsis*              | Indicates whether subordinate naming contexts should be visible in the namingContexts attribute of the RootDSE. By default only top level naming contexts are visible |
| *Default value*         | false                                                                                                                                                                 |
| *Allowed values*        | truefalse                                                                                                                                                             |
| *Multi-valued*          | No                                                                                                                                                                    |
| *Required*              | Yes                                                                                                                                                                   |
| *Admin action required* | None                                                                                                                                                                  |
| *Advanced*              | No                                                                                                                                                                    |
| *Read-only*             | No                                                                                                                                                                    |