LDAP UI Installation

Native LDAP store doesn't come with a GUI. Therefore, as administrators we may have to provide a nice user interface to our users. This UI should have the capability of changing details of users password resets, etc. To do these actions there are lot of open source packages as well as commercialized products.

On this tutorial we will go through two UI setups that will focus on different outputs.

Apache Directory Studio (For Admins)

• Download and install

The latest version of Apache Directory Studio can be downloaded to your host machine from the Apache Directory Studio Downloads page, at this address : ​http://directory.apache.org/studio/downloads.html

Installation steps ​https://directory.apache.org/studio/users-guide/apache_directory_studio/download_install.html

Once the installation succeeds open the Apache Directory Studio.

Creating the ldap connection:

Go to File --> new --> ldap browser --> ldap connection --> next

Enter your deatils:

Connection Name: LDAP Server
Hostname: ldap://idp.instXY.ac.lk
port: 389
Encrypted Method: Use STARTTLS
Provider: Apache Directory LDAP Client API

Next

Authentication Method: Simple Authentication
Bind Dn: cn=admin,dc=thilinapathirana,dc=xyz
Bind Password:

Click Check Authentication to make sure your credentials work. For the first time it ask to trust the self signed certificate.

Select Always trust this Certificate and click OK

Then click Finish.

• To connect, double click the connection just created from Connections list.

• Once connected you can browse through the directory using the LDAP Browser.

• When modifying entries you may use a ldif file or the GUI.

• Using GUI to create an OU:
  • Select root location for the OU (eg. dc=instXY,dc=ac,dc=lk)
  • Select New Entry on Right click Menu
  • Then Create entry from Scratch --> Next
  • Select OrganizationalUnit and click Add and Next
  • Type OU as the RDN and the desired value in-front of it, then click Next and Finish

• Adding a User Group
  • Select root location for the OU (eg. ou=Group,dc=instXY,dc=ac,dc=lk)
  • Select New Entry on Right click Menu
  • Then Create entry from Scratch --> Next
  • Select groupofNames and click Add and Next
  • Type CN as the RDN and the desired value in-front of it and then click Next
  • You will prompt with a user add window as DN Editor. Select a user from browser and click OK

• Adding a new User
  • Select root location for the OU (eg. ou=People,dc=instXY,dc=ac,dc=lk)
  • Select New Entry on Right click Menu
  • Then Create entry from Scratch --> Next
  • Select inetOrgPerson and click Add
  • Select eduPerson and click Add and Next
  • Type uid as the RDN and the desired username value in-front of it and then Next
  • Enter desired values for cn (First Name) and sn (last Name)
  • Enter new attribute from right click menu as userPassword and click finish. when it asks, enter the new users password and select Plaintext as the hash method and click OK
  • You may add any other attribute as well.
  • Then click finish

More documentation can be found on ​https://directory.apache.org/studio/users-guide/

Keycloak Server (For End Users)

Keycloak is an open source identity and access management solution, we will use keycloak only to provide a friendly self care portal to users allowing services such as password resets.

We will install Keycloak in your idp vm for the lab purpose but it is recommended to install it on a separate server with at least 4GB RAM for production environment.

• Install Dependancies
  • Become the root user by sudo su
  • apt-get install vim default-jdk
  • Define the constant JAVA_HOME inside /etc/environment:
    • update-alternatives --config java (copy the path without /bin/java)
    • vim /etc/environment and include
      • JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64
    • source /etc/environment
  • export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-amd64

• Download Keycloak and extract:

  •      wget https://downloads.jboss.org/keycloak/4.4.0.Final/keycloak-4.4.0.Final.tar.gz
    

         tar -xvzf keycloak-4.4.0.Final.tar.gz
    

• Go to the executable directory:

    cd keycloak-4.3.0.Final/bin/
  

• Create Initial Admin User

    ./add-user-keycloak.sh -r master -u adminiam -p Iam@2018
  

• Edit listning interface:

      vim standalone/configuration/standalone.xml
  

look for the interfaces XML block

       <interfaces>
               <interface name="management">
                   <inet-address value="${jboss.bind.address.management:127.0.0.1}"/>
               </interface>
               <interface name="public">
                   <inet-address value="${jboss.bind.address:127.0.0.1}"/>
               </interface>
       </interfaces>

Change IP address 127.0.0.1 to 0.0.0.0 allowing traffic from outside.

• Start the server

       ./bin/standalone.sh &
  

• Now you should be able to access the server through your browser by accessing: ​https://idp.instXY.ac.lk:8443/auth/admin

• Log in to the master admin console. This will provide full privileged access to the system.

• Create your own realm (domain)
  • From the Master drop-down menu, click Add Realm.
  • Put instXY as the Name and Add

From here onwards, make sure you select instXY from the master menu when doing changes.

• Connect your ldap instance:

• Map User Attributes

You have to map user attributes that are essential in password resetting. When a user clicks forgot password link it will send a reset link to a working email. Keep in mind that the attribute mail should be the key attribute for mapping the ldap user for various outside services. Therefore it should be something in the format user@instXY.ac.lk and it should not be allowed to be changed by the users. Because of this, we will use ldap attribute email to fill in the alternate email of the user which is used to send the reset requests.

• Map Group Attributes

For further customization you may consult keycloak official guides from ​https://www.keycloak.org/documentation.html