Purging

Directory Manager imports extract files containing entries who are "current", that is, exist on the data source when the extract file was produced. They do not contain information about entries that have been removed from that source. If extract files from the same source are imported regularly, these entries that have been removed will remain as live users on the target directory.

To overcome this problem, Directory Manager uses a feature called Purging. Every time that Directory Manager adds a new user, or updates an existing user, it can update an expiry date. Every time a user is updated, this date will be updated also. Those users that have been deleted from the source will not be updated and hence neither will their expiry date. Purging can then be used that will disable all users that have an expiry date of a certain age.

Directory Manager can optionally move these purged users to a specified OU on the directory. See User Options for details of how to do this.

Purging is configured either in the rules engine or in the User Options.

• Rules Purging - purging is configured per-rule, that is only OUs being used by the rules can be purged. For each rule, a purge type and a purge age is set.
  
  
• General Purging - a directory base is provided under which all OUs are purged. This base is set in the User Options.

Purging takes place after importing of extract files has completed.