What is the significance of objectclass: top?

["Kevin Myer" <kevin_myer@elanco.k12.pa.us>]

Hi,

I am attempting to get OpenLDAP working on a Linux box so as to circumvent
Netscape's attempts to charge for previously free educational versions.
I've gotten the source, configured and compiled it but I'm having some
trouble figuring out just what is necessary to get my data to run.

I am seeing this objectclass:top in some places but can't seem to find any
info that specifically says if its necessary.  Is it a Netscape-centric
thing?

Right now, our LDAP services are housed at the Intermediate Unit, a sort
of coop of schools in two counties here in Pennsylvania.  Ultimately then,
my server will be a slave of that server and will serve up just
information about Eastern Lancaster County School District.

I am assuming that somehow, I need to maintain the directory structure
that the IU has on their server so that when a request to them is referred
to my server, my server conforms to the request.  However, I'm confused
about the organizational structure.

dn: o=Lancaster-Lebanon School Districts, c=US
objectclass: top

(followed by all the users)

That is the first item in the LDIF file their admin sent me.  Now am I to
assume I can import that whole LDIF file as is?  Can I run my server with
that designation in my config files?  Or do I need to append my
organizational unit to the top, something like:

dn:  o=Lancaster-Lebanon School Districts, ou=Eastern Lancaster County
School District, c=us
objectclass=top

Or is there something else different from those two that I need to start
my hiearchy with?

Objectclass:person entries are like:

dn:cn=User Name, ou=Eastern Lancaster County School District,
o=Lancaster-Lebanon School Districts, c=US
cn:User Name
sn:LastName
givenname:FirstName
objectclass:top
objectclass:person
objectclass:organizationalPerson
objectclass:iu13OrgPerson
ou:Eastern Lancaster County School District
.....

Logically, the information will reside on my server.  Virtually, the info
appears to be coming from the IU's server and all I want to do is find out
what is necessary on my end (entrywise) to have that be the case.

Thanks very much for any help.

Kevin

-- 
     ~        Kevin M. Myer
    . .       Technical Services Specialist
    /V\       ELANCO School District
   // \
  /(   )\
   ^`~'^