Bulk import in a directory server

1. A method of bulk import in a directory server, comprising:

defining extended operations for bulk import on a server and a client; and

importing a plurality of entries into the directory server through a series of LDAP add operations framed by extended operations for bulk import.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

importing the plurality of entries remotely.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

importing state information within the plurality of entries.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying extended operations for bulk import by an object identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

suspending all operations except LDAP operations necessary for bulk import when bulk import commences.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended operations for bulk import specify an object identifier and data specific to extended operations.

7. A method of bulk import in a directory server, comprising:

defining extended operations for bulk import on a server and a client;

importing plurality of entries into the directory server through a series of LDAP add operations framed by extended operations for bulk import;

importing the plurality of entries remotely;

importing state information within the plurality of entries;

identifying extended operations for bulk import by an object identifier; and

suspending all operations except LDAP operations necessary for bulk import once bulk import commences,

wherein the extended operations for bulk import specify an object identifier and data specific to extended operations.

8. A method of bulk import in a directory server, comprising:

defining an extended operation for bulk import on a server and a client;

sending an extended operation request from the client to the server;

performing the extended operation for bulk import after receiving the extended operation request from the server;

sending a response of the server back to the client specifying an object identifier of the extended operation and data specific to the extended operation; and

performing a series of LDAP add operations framed by the extended operation for bulk import to import a plurality of entries into the directory server.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

importing the plurality of entries remotely.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

importing state information within the plurality of entries.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying the extended operations for bulk import by an object identifier.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

suspending all operations except LDAP operations necessary for bulk import when bulk import commences.

13. A method of bulk import in a directory server, comprising:

defining an extended operation for bulk import on a server and a client;

sending an extended operation request from the client to the server;

performing the extended operation for bulk import after receiving the extended operation request from the server;

sending a response of the server back to the client specifying an object identifier of the extended operation and data specific to the extended operation;

performing a series of LDAP add operations framed by the extended operation for bulk import a to import plurality of entries into the directory server;

importing the plurality of entries remotely;

importing state information within the plurality of entries;

identifying the extended operations for bulk import by an object identifier; and

suspending all operations except LDAP operations necessary for bulk import when bulk import commences.

14. A bulk import system for a directory server, comprising:

a processor;

a memory,

extended operations for bulk import defined on a server and a client; and

software instructions residing in memory executable on the processor for performing a series of LDAP add operations framed by extended operations for bulk import to import an plurality of entries into the directory server.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a back-end portion for use by a fast replica initialization component and a wire import component.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a fast replica initialization component comprising a front-end portion; and

a back-end portion connected to the front-end portion, wherein an LDAP protocol is transferred between the front-end portion and the back-end portion to import a plurality of entries and any state information contained in the plurality of entries into the directory server.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a wire import comprising a front-end portion; and

a back-end portion connected to the front-end portion, wherein an LDAP protocol is transferred between the front-end portion and the back-end portion to import the plurality of entries into the directory server.

18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

state information contained within the plurality of entries.

19. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

an object identifier that identifies the extended operations for bulk import.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of entries is remotely imported.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein all operations are suspended except LDAP operations necessary for bulk import when bulk import commences.

22. A bulk import system for a directory server, comprising:

a processor;

a memory,

extended operations for bulk import defined on a server and a client;

software instructions residing in memory executable on the processor for performing a series of LDAP add operations framed by extended operations for bulk import to import plurality of entries into the directory server;

a back-end portion for use by a fast replica initialization component and a wire import component;

state information contained within the plurality of entries; and

an object identifier that identifies the extended operations for bulk import.

23. A bulk import apparatus for a directory server, comprising:

means for defining extended operations for bulk import on a server and a client; and

means for importing a plurality of entries into the directory server using the extended operations for bulk import.

24. A bulk import apparatus for a directory server, comprising:

means for defining an extended operation for bulk import on a server and a client;

means for sending an extended operation request from the client to the server;

means for performing the extended operation for bulk import after receiving the extended operation request from the server;

means for sending a response of the server back to the client specifying an object identifier of the extended operation and data specific to the extended operation; and

means for performing a series of LDAP add operations framed by the extended operations for bulk import to import a plurality of entries into the directory server.