Domino Directory is the heart of HCL Domino. The names.nsf database holds users, groups, servers and the server's settings.
Domino Directory is the heart of HCL Domino. The names.nsf database holds users, groups, servers and the server's settings. Everything Domino does starts with a lookup in Domino Directory.
What is in Domino Directory?
- Person documents with name, mail address, mailbox location, web password and certificate.
- Group documents, used for access control in databases and for mailing lists.
- Server documents with ports, security, who may log on, and which tasks the server runs.
- Configuration documents with mail rules, routing and notes.ini settings.
- Connection documents that control replication and mail routing between servers.
- Certificates for the organisation and its units.
Why does it matter?
Errors in Domino Directory are the most common cause of operational problems. A group that accidentally gains one extra member grants access to data. A server document with a wrong port stops mail. Changes in names.nsf should therefore only be made by a Notes administrator, and the database should have an ACL that gives only a few people write access.
Synchronisation with other directories
Most companies also have Active Directory or Entra ID. Domino can synchronise users with AD through ADSync or TDI, or use AD for login through LDAP. In a migration to Microsoft 365, it is essential that users and groups match across both, otherwise mail ends up in the wrong place.
Common questions about Domino Directory
What happens if names.nsf becomes corrupt?
The server will not start, or users cannot log in. That is why Domino Directory is replicated to all servers, and there should be a backup every day.
Can you have several directories?
Yes. Directory Assistance lets Domino look up several Domino directories and LDAP, for example when two companies merge.
Can automation create users?
Yes. We have built automated user management for public and private organisations, so creating, moving and removing users happens without manual work.
Help with Domino Directory
We clean up old directories, set up AD synchronisation and monitor changes. Read about Domino operations and monitoring.