In versions of NetWare® before version 4.0, information was not available from a distributed directory. Instead, each server in the network stored a database that contained information such as the name, object ID, and password of every user or object that had access to the services provided by that server. Because the servers in the network did not share or communicate this information, the user or object’s information was stored separately on every server to which it had rights. For example, if user BrianW had rights to servers Engineering, Mktg, and Sales, his information was stored on each of the three servers. Each time BrianW wanted to access services on a different server, he would have to log in and establish a connection with that server.
Unlike the Directory tree, which is hierarchical, the bindery is a flat structure that is specific to one server. To provide access for bindery users and clients, NDS imitates a flat structure for leaf entries within one or more container entries.
NDS™ emulates the Bindery found in earlier versions of NetWare® by formulating NDS information into a bindery format that can be used to respond to bindery-style requests. This is necessary for backward compatibility with applications that perform bindery functions.