| ## dce_intro(3dce) Introduction to the DCE routines Description The DCE routines provide several facilities that are applicable across more than one DCE component. They can be divided into the following major areas: DCE attribute interface routines These routines allow applications to define and access attribute types (schema entries) in a schema of your choice. They are based on the Extended Registry Attribute (ERA) interface, which defines and accesses attribute types in the register database schema. For more information about the individual attribute interface routines, see the dce_attr_intro(3dce) reference page. DCE configuration routines These routines return information based on the contents of the local DCE configuration file, which is created during the DCE cell-configuration or machine-configuration process. For more information about the individual configuration routines, see the dce_config_intro(3dce) reference page. DCE backing store routines These routines allow you to maintain typed data between program invocations. The backing store routines can be used in servers, in clients or in standalone programs that do not involve remote procedure calls (RPC). For more information about the individual backing store routines, see the dce_db_intro(3dce) reference page. DCE messaging interface routines These routines give you access to message catalogs, to specific message texts and message IDs, and to in-memory message tables. For more information about the individual messaging interface routines, see the dce_msg_intro(3dce) reference page. DCE server routines These routines are used by servers to register themselves with DCE. This includes RPC runtime, the local endpoint mapper, and the namespace. Routines are also available to set up DCE security so that servers can receive and invoke authenticated RPCs. For more information about the individual server routines, see the dce_server_intro(3dce) reference page. DCE serviceability routines These routines are intended for use by servers that export the serviceability interface defined in service.idl. There are also a set of DCE serviceability macros can be used for diagnostic purposes, and to create a serviceability handle. For more information about the individual serviceability routines, see the dce_svc_intro(3dce) reference page. DCE Host daemon application programming interface These routines give management applications remote access to various data, servers, and services on DCE hosts. For more information about the individual host daemon application programming interface routines, see the dced_intro(3dce) reference page. ##