Mastering OpenLDAP: Configuring, Securing and Integrating Directory Services Book

Install, Configure, Build, and Integrate Secure Directory Services with OpenLDAP server in a networked environment Up-to-date with the latest OpenLDAP releaseInstalling and configuring the OpenLDAP serverSynchronizing multiple OpenLDAP servers over the networkCreating custom LDAP schemas to model your own informationIntegrating OpenLDAP with web applications In Detail This book is the ideal introduction to using OpenLDAP for Application Developers and will also benefit System Administrators running OpenLDAP. It prepares the reader to build a directory using OpenLDAP, and then employ this directory in the context of the network, taking a practical approach that emphasizes how to get things done. On occasion, it delves into theoretical aspects of LDAP, but only where understanding the theory helps to answer practical questions. The reader requires no knowledge of OpenLDAP, but even readers already familiar with the technology will find new things and techniques. This book is organized into three major sections: the first section covers the basics of LDAP directory services and the OpenLDAP server; the second focuses on building directory services with OpenLDAP; in the third section of the book, we look at how OpenLDAP is integrated with other applications and services on the network. This book not only demystifies OpenLDAP, but gives System Administrators and Application Developers a solid understanding of how to make use of OpenLDAP's directory services. The OpenLDAP directory server is a mature product that has been around (in one form or another) since 1995. It is an open-source server that provides network clients with directory services. All major Linux distributions include the OpenLDAP server, and many major applications, both open-source and proprietary, are directory aware and can make use of the services provided by OpenLDAP. The OpenLDAP directory server can be used to store organizational information in a centralized location, and make this information available to authorized applications. Client applications connect to OpenLDAP using the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and can then search the directory and (if they have appropriate access) modify and manipulate records. LDAP servers are most frequently used to provide network-based authentication services for users; but there are many other uses for an LDAP server, including using the directory as an address book, a DNS database, an organizational tool, or even as a network object store for applications. What you will learn from this book? Installing binary OpenLDAP packages and building from sourceConfiguring and verifying the LDAP serverBuilding an initial directory tree in an LDIF fileLoading, modifying, and searching directory recordsSetting passwords and authenticating against the directoryConfiguring Access Control Lists (ACLs)Configuring multiple database back endsSecuring network-based directory connections with SSL and TLSAdvanced configurations and performance tuning settingsCreating and implementing LDAP schemasCreating custom schemas and sophisticated ACLsUsing OpenLDAP as a proxy for other LDAP serversAdding caching with the Proxy Cache overlayUsing the transparency overlay to create a hybrid cacheInstalling and configuring a web-base LDAP administration suiteKeeping multiple directory servers synchronized with SyncReplUsing OpenLDAP for Apache authentication Approach This book has been written from the application developer's perspective, tackling the topics that will be most important to helping the application developer understand OpenLDAP, and get it set up as securely and quickly as possible. It shows how OpenLDAP interoperates with other UNIX/Linux services (DNS, NIS, Samba, etc.). Who this book is written for? The target audience will require basic Linux system administration knowledge, but no prior knowledge of LDAP or OpenLDAP is assumed. If you are web savvy and are interested in using OpenLDAP for web applications and services like client interaction then this is the book for you.Read More