In an entry-balancing configuration, the Directory Proxy Server maintains the default RDN index as well as one or more in-memory global attribute indexes. The global indexes allow the Directory Proxy Server to select the correct backend server set for incoming operations, which avoids broadcasting operations to all backend sets.

The indexes may be preloaded from peer proxies or the backend directory servers when the server starts up, and are updated by certain operations that come through the Directory Proxy Server. For instance, when a new entry is added, the DN of the new entry is added to the DN index of the Directory Proxy Server performing the operation. The indexes are also fault-tolerant and can adapt to changes made in the backend servers without going through the Directory Proxy Server. For example, operations will be processed directly through the backend server.

This section describes when to create a global attribute index, how to reload the global index, how to monitor its growth, and how to prime the global index from a peer at start-up.