LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is an application protocol for accessing directory services. It runs on a layer above the TCP/IP stack incorporating simplified encoding methods, and offers a convenient way to connect to, search, and modify Internet directories, specifically X.500-based directory services. It is an open, vendor-neutral, industry standard application protocol. LDAP utilizes a client-server model.
This protocol is specifically targeted at management applications and browser applications that provide read/write interactive access to directories.
The main benefit of using an LDAP server is that information for an entire organization can be consolidated into a central repository. LDAP supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS), so that sensitive data can be protected. LDAP servers are used for a variety of tasks including, but not limited to, user authentication, machine authentication, user/system groups, asset tracking, organization representation, and application configuration stores.
The chart below offers our recommendations. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion.
Let’s explore the 9 LDAP solutions at hand. The table below has links to each LDAP offering a full description with detailed feature lists, together with links to relevant resources.
| LDAP Solutions | |
|---|---|
| 389 Directory Server | Enterprise-class Open Source LDAP server |
| OpenLDAP | LDAP suite of applications and development tools |
| FreeIPA | Integrated security information management solution |
| OpenDJ | Cloud Directory for the API Economy |
| lldap | Light LDAP implementation |
| ApacheDS | LDAP and Kerberos server written in Java |
| GLAuth | Easy-to-use, LDAP server with configurable backends |
| Wren:DS | LDAPv3 directory service for secure identity data storage |
| RazDC | Active Directory domain controller built on Rocky Linux and Samba4 |
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