LDAP stands for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol and allows for the querying of a directory service over a network. With LDAP running, all machines on the network can access a distributed directory service, which provides a set of records that can be used for things like authentication. For example, you could have an LDAP server running on your network and then configure desktop clients to authenticate to that server. In other words, you have a single authentication source that would allow users to log into their accounts from any machine on the network.

In this article, written by Jack Wallen for TechRepublic Premium, it walks through the process of installing OpenLDAP on Ubuntu Server, installing a web-based gui for user/group management, and then authenticating a Ubuntu Desktop client to the newly deployed server.

Featured text from the guide:

HOW TO POPULATE THE OPENLDAP DATABASE

Our next step is to create our first entry in the OpenLDAP database. For this, we’ll create an ldif file, add entries, and then inject that file into OpenLDAP. First, create the new file with the command:

nano ldap_data.ldif

In that file, paste the following:

dn: ou=People,dc=example,dc=com

objectClass: organizationalUnit

ou: People

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TIME SAVED: Crafting this content required 20 hours of dedicated writing, editing and research.