openldap-server

OpenLDAP server software for running an LDAP directory service. Typically used to host directory data (users/groups) and provide LDAP and LDAPS endpoints for authentication/lookup by applications.

Evaluated Apr 04, 2026 (25d ago)
Homepage ↗ Repo ↗ Infrastructure ldap directory identity authentication self-hosted open-source openldap ldaps
⚙ Agent Friendliness
24
/ 100
Can an agent use this?
🔒 Security
63
/ 100
Is it safe for agents?
⚡ Reliability
45
/ 100
Does it work consistently?

Score Breakdown

⚙ Agent Friendliness

MCP Quality
0
Documentation
30
Error Messages
0
Auth Simplicity
45
Rate Limits
0

🔒 Security

TLS Enforcement
70
Auth Strength
70
Scope Granularity
60
Dep. Hygiene
50
Secret Handling
60

Strength depends heavily on configuration: prefer LDAPS/STARTTLS, disable insecure binds, enforce ACLs, restrict network access, and keep the server and dependencies patched. LDAP credentials/binds should be protected by transport security; misconfiguration can expose data or enable weak authentication paths.

⚡ Reliability

Uptime/SLA
30
Version Stability
55
Breaking Changes
50
Error Recovery
45
AF Security Reliability

Best When

You need a self-managed, standards-based LDAP directory and can apply OS/network/security hardening and operational best practices.

Avoid When

You cannot ensure transport security (LDAPS/STARTTLS), access controls, patching, and operational monitoring; or you need a managed identity provider instead of a directory server.

Use Cases

  • Self-hosted directory service for identity data (users, groups, roles)
  • LDAP-based authentication or authorization against a central directory
  • Building and testing LDAP/Kerberos/SSO integrations in controlled environments
  • Migration/compat testing for existing LDAP deployments
  • Enterprise/internal applications that require LDAP directory lookups

Not For

  • Public-facing, internet-exposed identity systems without strong network controls and careful hardening
  • Use cases requiring modern directory APIs/managed identity features (IdP features, MFA, conditional access)
  • Applications that cannot operate LDAP/LDAPS or require hosted multi-tenant SaaS identity

Interface

REST API
No
GraphQL
No
gRPC
No
MCP Server
No
SDK
No
Webhooks
No

Authentication

Methods: LDAP simple bind SASL binds (e.g., GSSAPI/Kerberos, DIGEST-MD5 depending on configuration)
OAuth: No Scopes: No

Authentication is via LDAP bind operations over LDAP/LDAPS/STARTTLS; authorization is enforced via LDAP access control lists (ACLs). The specific method(s) and policy depend on server configuration.

Pricing

Free tier: No
Requires CC: No

Self-hosted open-source software; costs are infrastructure and operational effort.

Agent Metadata

Pagination
none
Idempotent
False
Retry Guidance
Not documented

Known Gotchas

  • No modern API contract (REST/GraphQL/etc.); programmatic integration typically requires LDAP clients/libraries and server configuration knowledge
  • Operational changes often require restarting/reloading services; agent-driven automation may need to handle stateful reconfiguration safely
  • LDAP operations can have subtle security pitfalls (e.g., accidentally allowing anonymous binds or plaintext LDAP without STARTTLS/LDAPS) if misconfigured

Alternatives

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Scores are editorial opinions as of 2026-04-04.

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