Deleting Objects from the Directory Tree

When you delete leaf objects, Novell Directory Services (NDS) removes references to the deleted object. For example, if you delete a Profile object, that Profile object is deleted from any User objects that list it. Or, if you delete a User object, all trustee assignments listing that user are deleted.

Some special considerations apply when you delete particular objects, such as a NetWare Server object, a User object, or an Alias object. These cautions are explained in the next three sections.

IMPORTANT:  You cannot undo a Delete Object operation. To get the object back, you must re-create it and reenter all data in its properties.

You can use NetWare Administrator or NETADMIN to delete objects from the Directory tree. Both procedures are documented in this section.

Cautions When Deleting NetWare Server Objects

An NDS NetWare server is one that you have installed in the Directory tree. Any server that is not in the Directory tree is a bindery server.

You can use NetWare Administrator or NETADMIN to delete bindery servers. But consider the following before you delete an NDS Server object:

• You cannot delete a NetWare server from the Directory tree using the NETADMIN utility.
• You must use the Partition Manager tool in the NetWare Administrator utility to delete an NDS NetWare server from the Directory tree.
• If the server you want to delete contains a master replica, you must first change the master to a different type and designate another replica on another server as the master.

Cautions When Deleting User Objects

You must be careful not to delete a trustee object which has the only trustee assignment to a part of the Directory tree. If you did, you could cut off access to that part of the Directory tree.

You must also be careful not to block everyone's rights to an object with an Inherited Rights Filter, leaving no one with access to part of the Directory tree.

Therefore, be aware of the following before you delete a User object:

• To avoid losing access to any object, check the Rights to Other Objects and Trustees of This Object attributes of the User object you want to delete. To view these attributes, select the User object, and right-click once. Then select the attribute you want to view from the available options.

  If the User object you want to delete has the Supervisor right to another object, transfer that Supervisor right to another User object before you delete the original User object.

  Or, give a User object in a higher container object the Supervisor right to objects, and then block other users from deleting those objects.

• Do not delete user ADMIN until you have given another User object the same Supervisor right that ADMIN has.
• When you delete a User object, any security equivalences that you have assigned to other trustees are lost.
• When you delete a User object, the home directories and mail directories will not be deleted.

Cautions When Deleting Alias Objects

Be aware of the following before you delete an Alias object:

• If you delete an alias object (which appears as the actual object it is pointing to), you only delete the alias object, not what it points to.

  When you delete an alias object, it does not affect the object that the alias object points to.

• If you delete the object that an alias object points to, the alias object is also deleted.

Deleting Objects Using NetWare Administrator

Prerequisites

• A workstation running NetWare Administrator
• The Delete object right to the object that you want to delete

Procedure

1. Choose the NetWare Administrator icon from the MS Windows Program Manager.

2. Using the browser, select the object you want to delete.

   Only leaf objects and container objects that are empty can be deleted.

3. Select (check) the Trustees of This Object and the Rights to Other Objects dialogs.

   IMPORTANT:  If the User object you want to delete has the Supervisor right to another object, give another User object that Supervisor right before you delete the original User object.

4. Choose Delete from the Object menu.

   IMPORTANT:  You cannot undo an object deletion. To get the object back, you must re-create it and reenter all data in its properties.

5. To confirm the deletion, choose OK.

Additional Information

Deleting Objects Using NETADMIN

Prerequisites

• A workstation running DOS 3.30 or later and the NETADMIN utility
• The Delete object right to the object that you want to delete from the Directory tree

Procedure

1. At the DOS prompt, type

   NETADMIN <Enter>

   For information on moving around in NETADMIN and selecting objects, press <F1> after starting the utility.

2. Choose Manage Objects from the NETADMIN Options menu.

3. Browse the Directory until the object you want to delete appears.

   Use the instructions at the bottom of the screen to browse the Directory. Press <F1> if you need help.

4. Select the object and press <Delete>.

   IMPORTANT:  If the User object you want to delete has the Supervisor right to another object, give another User object that Supervisor right before you delete the original User object.

   IMPORTANT:  You cannot undo an object deletion. To get the object back, you must re-create it and reenter all data in its properties.

5. To confirm the deletion, choose Yes.

   The object is deleted from the Directory tree.

6. Press <Esc> until you return to the NETADMIN Options menu

Additional Information