LDAPcompatible

LDAPcompatible describes software or systems that implement or interoperate with the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). It typically refers to components that can act as LDAP servers, LDAP clients, or gateways, and that adhere to the LDAPv3 protocol defined in the related RFCs. LDAP-compatible systems exchange data using the LDAP data model and support common directory operations such as bind, search, compare, modify, add, delete, and modify DN, using distinguished names and LDAP filters.

In practice, LDAP-compatible software provides directory services that store information about users, groups, devices, and other entities, and can serve as an authentication backend for applications or as a central identity store for an organization. LDAP compatibility enables interoperability with a wide range of clients and servers, including popular implementations such as OpenLDAP, Microsoft Active Directory, 389 Directory Server, and ApacheDS, as well as identity solutions like FreeIPA. It often supports common features like schema definitions, LDIF data interchange, and security mechanisms such as StartTLS and LDAPS, along with SASL-based authentication.

Compatibility considerations include adherence to LDAPv3 when interoperability is required, as older LDAPv2 implementations are largely obsolete. Differences in directory schemas, object classes, and attribute syntaxes can affect integration, and handling of referrals, subschemas, and extended operations may vary across vendors. Administrators must consider access control, encryption, and performance when deploying LDAP-compatible solutions, especially in large or mixed environments.

Overall, LDAP-compatible software emphasizes adherence to a standard protocol to enable reliable, scalable, and interoperable directory services and authentication across diverse systems.