Adding Users in OpenLDAP

How to Add Users in OpenLDAP

OpenLDAP is an open-source implementation of the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, useful for managing distributed directory information services. Adding users to your OpenLDAP server is a frequent administrative task that enables centralized management of user credentials and permissions.

Prerequisites

Access to a server with OpenLDAP installed.
Administrator privileges.
Basic knowledge of the Linux command line.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Access Your Server

ssh your_username@your_server_ip

2. Prepare LDIF File for New User

Create a new LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) file which contains the user’s details. This file is used to add entries to the directory.

sudo vi add_user.ldif

Insert content similar to:

dn: uid=jdoe,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
cn: John Doe
sn: Doe
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
uid: jdoe
userPassword: secret

3. Add the User to LDAP Directory

Load the LDIF file into your LDAP directory using the ldapadd command:

ldapadd -x -D "cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com" -W -f add_user.ldif

You’ll be prompted to enter the LDAP admin password.

4. Verify the Addition

After adding the user, verify whether the user is present in the directory:

ldapsearch -xLLL -b "dc=example,dc=com" "uid=jdoe"

Troubleshooting

Issue: Authentication failed when adding user.
Solution: Ensure you are using the correct admin credentials.
Issue: User already exists.
Solution: Check for existing user entries with the same UID and resolve duplicates.