
Concepts: About the Local Directory Domain
Every Mac OS X computer has a local directory domain. A local domain's administrative data is visible only to applications and system software running on the computer where the domain resides. It is the first domain consulted when a user logs in or performs some other operation that requires data stored in a directory domain.
When the user logs in to a Mac OS X computer, Open Directory searches the computer's local directory domain for the user's record. If the local directory domain contains the user's record (and the user typed the correct password), the login process proceeds and the user gets access to the computer.
After login, the user could choose "Connect to Server" from the Go menu and connect to Mac OS X Server for file service. In this case, Open Directory on the server searches for the user's record in the server's local directory domain. If the server's local directory domain has a record for the user (and the user types the correct password), the server grants the user access to the file services.
When you first set up a Mac OS X computer, its local directory domain is automatically created and populated with records. For example, a user record is created for the user who performed the installation. It contains the user name and password entered during setup, as well as other information, such as a unique ID for the user and the location of the user's home directory.