LDIF File Format

Describes LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) - a text file format to represent LDAP data entries and change requests. LDIF files are widely used by tools to manage LDAP server databases.

What Is LDIF File Format? LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) is a text file format to represent LDAP data entries and change requests. LDIF is specified by the RFC 2849: "The LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) - Technical Specification" at https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2849.

Important rules of LDIF are:

Here are commonly used objectClass names and their required attributes.

objectClass            Required Attributes
-----------            -------------------
account                userid
organization           o
person                 cn, sn
organizationalPerson   cn, sn
organizationalRole     cn
organizationUnit       ou
posixGroup             cn, gidNumber
posixAccount           cn, gidNumber, homeDirectory, uid, uidNumber

Here is an example of a LDIF with a new LDAP entry and LDAP change request:

# Entry entry for Joe Doe
dn: cn=Joe Doe,ou=IT,dc=herongyang,dc=com
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
cn: Joe Doe
sn: Doe
givenName: Joe
mail: joe@herongyang.com

# Change request for Bob Lee
dn: cn=Bob Lee,ou=IT,dc=herongyang,dc=com
changetype: modify
replace: mail
mail: bob_lee@herongyang.com

Table of Contents

 About This Book

 Introduction to Linux Systems

 Cockpit - Web Portal for Administrator

 Process Management

 Files and Directories

 Users and Groups

 File Systems

 Block Devices and Partitions

 LVM (Logical Volume Manager)

 Installing CentOS

 SELinux - Security-Enhanced Linux

 Network Connection on CentOS

 Internet Networking Tools

 SSH Protocol and ssh/scp Commands

 Software Package Manager on CentOS - DNF and YUM

 vsftpd - Very Secure FTP Daemon

 Postfix - Mail Transport Agent (MTA)

 Dovecot - IMAP and POP3 Server

 Email Client Tools - Mail User Agents (MUA)

LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)

 What Is LDAP

 What Is OpenLDAP

 Install OpenLDAP Server on CentOS

 Configure OpenLDAP Server on CentOS

 Use OpenLDAP Client Tools

 Delete or Modify LDAP Entries

LDIF File Format

 Hierarchical Structure of LDAP Entries

 Install OpenLDAP Server on CentOS 8

 Configure Mozilla Thunderbird to Use LDAP

 LDAP Attributes Mapping in Mozilla Thunderbird

 Configure Apple iPhone to Use LDAP

 Administrative Tasks

 References

 Full Version in PDF/EPUB