Overview

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) integration in Datafor allows administrators to authenticate users using an external LDAP server. This guide provides step-by-step instructions to configure and enable LDAP authentication within Datafor.

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1. Accessing LDAP Settings

1. Log in to the Datafor admin panel.

2. Navigate to Settings in the left-side menu.

3. Click on LDAP under the System Settings section.

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2. LDAP Configuration Parameters

The following fields must be properly configured to ensure successful LDAP authentication:

2.1 General Settings

Parameter	Description
Enabled	Toggle to enable or disable LDAP authentication.
LDAP Server Address	The URL of the LDAP server, including the protocol (ldap:// or ldaps://) and port (e.g., ldap://127.0.0.1:389).
Authentication Method	Select the authentication type: Simple Authentication or Anonymous Authentication.

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2.2 Connection Settings

Parameter	Description
Initial Context Factory	The fully qualified Java class for LDAP context initialization. Default: com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapCtxFactory.
Username Suffix Template	Template for generating user Distinguished Names (DN). Example: cn=${username},dc=example,dc=com.
Admin Distinguished Name (DN)	The DN of the administrator account used for LDAP authentication. Example: cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com.
Admin Password	The password for the admin account to authenticate with the LDAP server.

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2.3 User Management Settings

Parameter	Description
Auto-create User	If enabled, users will be automatically created in Datafor if they do not exist in LDAP.
Default User Type	The default type assigned to new users (e.g., Reader).
Default Role	Default roles assigned to new users created through LDAP. Multiple roles can be assigned (e.g., role2, role4, role5).

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3. Configuring LDAP Authentication

Step 1: Enable LDAP Authentication

• Toggle Enabled to activate LDAP authentication.

Step 2: Configure Server and Authentication Settings

• Enter the LDAP Server Address (e.g., ldap://127.0.0.1:389).
• Choose the Authentication Method (Simple or Anonymous).
• Specify the Initial Context Factory (com.sun.jndi.ldap.LdapCtxFactory).

Step 3: Set Up Admin Credentials

• Define the Admin DN (cn=admin,dc=example,dc=com).
• Provide the Admin Password.

Step 4: Configure User Mapping

• Define the Username Suffix Template (cn=${username},dc=example,dc=com).
• Enable Auto-create User if users should be automatically created in Datafor.
• Select the Default User Type (Reader, Editor, etc.).
• Assign Default Roles (role2, role4, role5).

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4. Saving and Validating Configuration

1. Click Save to apply the LDAP settings.

2. Click

   Validate

   to test the connection.

   • If successful: Validation Successful message appears.
   • If failed: Check LDAP credentials, server accessibility, or firewall settings.

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5. Common Issues and Solutions

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Failed to connect to LDAP server	Incorrect server address or port	Verify the LDAP Server Address and ensure the server is reachable.
Authentication failed	Incorrect admin credentials	Check Admin DN and Admin Password.
User login fails	Username mapping is incorrect	Review Username Suffix Template and adjust accordingly.
Auto-create user does not work	Auto-create feature is disabled	Ensure Auto-create User is enabled.
Roles are not assigned properly	Incorrect default role configuration	Verify Default Role settings and ensure correct role names are used.

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Conclusion

By correctly configuring LDAP integration, Datafor can securely authenticate users from an external directory, reducing the need for manual user management. Ensure all parameters are set correctly, and use the validation feature to test the connection before applying changes.