# $OpenLDAP$
# Copyright 1999-2026 The OpenLDAP Foundation, All Rights Reserved.
# COPYING RESTRICTIONS APPLY, see COPYRIGHT.

H1: A Quick-Start Guide

The following is a quick start guide to [[DOC_NAME]],
including the Standalone {{TERM:LDAP}} Daemon, {{slapd}}(8).

It is meant to walk you through the basic steps needed to install
and configure {{PRD:OpenLDAP Software}}.  It should be used in
conjunction with the other chapters of this document, manual pages,
and other materials provided with the distribution (e.g. the
{{F:INSTALL}} document) or on the {{PRD:OpenLDAP}} web site
({{URL: http://www.OpenLDAP.org}}), in particular the OpenLDAP
Software {{TERM:FAQ}} ({{URL: http://www.OpenLDAP.org/faq/?file=2}}).

If you intend to run OpenLDAP Software seriously, you should review
all of this document before attempting to install the software.

Note: This quick start guide does not use strong authentication
nor any integrity or confidential protection services.  These
services are described in other chapters of the
OpenLDAP Administrator's Guide.


.{{S: }}
^{{B: Get the software}}

. You can obtain a copy of the software by following the
instructions on the OpenLDAP Software download page
({{URL: http://www.openldap.org/software/download/}}).  It is
recommended that new users start with the latest {{release}}.


.{{S: }}
+{{B: Unpack the distribution}}

.Pick a directory for the source to live under, change
directory to there, and unpack the distribution using the
following commands:

..{{EX:gunzip -c openldap-VERSION.tgz | tar xvfB -}}

. then relocate yourself into the distribution directory:

..{{EX:cd openldap-VERSION}}

. You'll have to replace {{F:VERSION}} with the version
name of the release.


.{{S: }}
+{{B: Review documentation}}

. You should now review the {{F:COPYRIGHT}}, {{F:LICENSE}},
{{F:README}} and {{F:INSTALL}} documents provided with the distribution.
The {{F:COPYRIGHT}} and {{F:LICENSE}} provide information on
acceptable use, copying, and limitation of warranty of OpenLDAP
Software. 

.{{S: }}
. You should also review other chapters of this document.
In particular, the {{SECT:Building and Installing OpenLDAP Software}}
chapter of this document provides detailed information on prerequisite
software and installation procedures.


.{{S: }}
+{{B: Run {{EX:configure}}}}

. You will need to run the provided {{EX:configure}} script to
{{configure}} the distribution for building on your system.  The
{{EX:configure}} script accepts many command line options that enable or
disable optional software features.  Usually the defaults are okay,
but you may want to change them.  To get a complete list of options
that {{EX:configure}} accepts, use the {{EX:--help}} option:

..{{EX:./configure --help}}

. However, given that you are using this guide, we'll assume you
are brave enough to just let {{EX:configure}} determine
what's best:

..{{EX:./configure}}

. Assuming {{EX:configure}} doesn't dislike your system, you can
proceed with building the software.  If {{EX:configure}} did
complain, well, you'll likely need to go to the Software FAQ
{{Installation}} section ({{URL:http://www.openldap.org/faq/?file=8}})
and/or actually read the {{SECT:Building and Installing OpenLDAP Software}}
chapter of this document.


.{{S: }}
+{{B:Build the software}}.

. The next step is to build the software.  This step has two
parts, first we construct dependencies and then we compile the
software:

..{{EX:make depend}}
..{{EX:make}}


. Both makes should complete without error.


.{{S: }}
+{{B:Test the build}}.

. To ensure a correct build, you should run the test suite
(it only takes a few minutes):

..{{EX:make test}}

. Tests which apply to your configuration will run and they
should pass.  Some tests, such as the replication test, may
be skipped.


.{{S: }}
+{{B:Install the software}}.

. You are now ready to install the software; this usually requires
{{super-user}} privileges: 

..{{EX:su root -c 'make install'}}

. Everything should now be installed under {{F:/usr/local}} (or
whatever installation prefix was used by {{EX:configure}}).

.{{S: }}
+{{B:Edit the configuration file}}.

. Use your favorite editor to edit the provided {{slapd.ldif}}
example (usually installed as {{F:/usr/local/etc/openldap/slapd.ldif}})
to contain a MDB database definition of the form:

..{{EX:dn: olcDatabase=mdb,cn=config}}
..{{EX:objectClass: olcDatabaseConfig}}
..{{EX:objectClass: olcMdbConfig}}
..{{EX:olcDatabase: mdb}}
..{{EX:OlcDbMaxSize: 1073741824}}
..{{EX:olcSuffix: dc=<MY-DOMAIN>,dc=<COM>}}
..{{EX:olcRootDN: cn=Manager,dc=<MY-DOMAIN>,dc=<COM>}}
..{{EX:olcRootPW: secret}}
..{{EX:olcDbDirectory: /usr/local/var/openldap-data}}
..{{EX:olcDbIndex: objectClass eq}}

. Be sure to replace {{EX:<MY-DOMAIN>}} and {{EX:<COM>}} with
the appropriate domain components of your domain name.  For
example, for {{EX:example.com}}, use:

..{{EX:dn: olcDatabase=mdb,cn=config}}
..{{EX:objectClass: olcDatabaseConfig}}
..{{EX:objectClass: olcMdbConfig}}
..{{EX:olcDatabase: mdb}}
..{{EX:OlcDbMaxSize: 1073741824}}
..{{EX:olcSuffix: dc=example,dc=com}}
..{{EX:olcRootDN: cn=Manager,dc=example,dc=com}}
..{{EX:olcRootPW: secret}}
..{{EX:olcDbDirectory: /usr/local/var/openldap-data}}
..{{EX:olcDbIndex: objectClass eq}}

.If your domain contains additional components, such as
{{EX:eng.uni.edu.eu}}, use:

..{{EX:dn: olcDatabase=mdb,cn=config}}
..{{EX:objectClass: olcDatabaseConfig}}
..{{EX:objectClass: olcMdbConfig}}
..{{EX:olcDatabase: mdb}}
..{{EX:OlcDbMaxSize: 1073741824}}
..{{EX:olcSuffix: dc=eng,dc=uni,dc=edu,dc=eu}}
..{{EX:olcRootDN: cn=Manager,dc=eng,dc=uni,dc=edu,dc=eu}}
..{{EX:olcRootPW: secret}}
..{{EX:olcDbDirectory: /usr/local/var/openldap-data}}
..{{EX:olcDbIndex: objectClass eq}}

. Details regarding configuring {{slapd}}(8) can be found
in the {{slapd-config}}(5) manual page and the {{SECT:Configuring
slapd}} chapter of this document.  Note that the
specified olcDbDirectory must exist prior to starting {{slapd}}(8).


.{{S: }}
+{{B:Import the configuration database}}
. You are now ready to import your configuration database for use by
{{slapd}}(8), by running the command:

..{{EX: su root -c /usr/local/sbin/slapadd -n 0 -F /usr/local/etc/slapd.d -l /usr/local/etc/openldap/slapd.ldif}}

.{{S: }}
+{{B:Start SLAPD}}.

. You are now ready to start the Standalone LDAP Daemon, {{slapd}}(8),
by running the command:

..{{EX:su root -c /usr/local/libexec/slapd -F /usr/local/etc/slapd.d}}


. To check to see if the server is running and configured correctly,
you can run a search against it with {{ldapsearch}}(1).  By default,
{{ldapsearch}} is installed as {{F:/usr/local/bin/ldapsearch}}:

..{{EX:ldapsearch -x -b '' -s base '(objectclass=*)' namingContexts}}

. Note the use of single quotes around command parameters to prevent
special characters from being interpreted by the shell.  This should return:

..{{EX:dn:}}
..{{EX:namingContexts: dc=example,dc=com}}

. Details regarding running {{slapd}}(8) can be found
in the {{slapd}}(8) manual page and the
{{SECT:Running slapd}} chapter of this document.


.{{S: }}
+{{B:Add initial entries to your directory}}.

. You can use {{ldapadd}}(1) to add entries to your LDAP directory.
{{ldapadd}} expects input in {{TERM:LDIF}} form.  We'll do it in two
steps:

^^ create an LDIF file
++ run ldapadd

. Use your favorite editor and create an LDIF file that contains:

..{{EX:dn: dc=<MY-DOMAIN>,dc=<COM>}}
..{{EX:objectclass: dcObject}}
..{{EX:objectclass: organization}}
..{{EX:o: <MY ORGANIZATION>}}
..{{EX:dc: <MY-DOMAIN>}}
..{{EX:}}
..{{EX:dn: cn=Manager,dc=<MY-DOMAIN>,dc=<COM>}}
..{{EX:objectclass: organizationalRole}}
..{{EX:cn: Manager}}

. Be sure to replace {{EX:<MY-DOMAIN>}} and {{EX:<COM>}} with the
appropriate domain components of your domain name.  {{EX:<MY
ORGANIZATION>}} should be replaced with the name of your organization.
When you cut and paste, be sure to trim any leading and trailing
whitespace from the example.

..{{EX:dn: dc=example,dc=com}}
..{{EX:objectclass: dcObject}}
..{{EX:objectclass: organization}}
..{{EX:o: Example Company}}
..{{EX:dc: example}}
..{{EX:}}
..{{EX:dn: cn=Manager,dc=example,dc=com}}
..{{EX:objectclass: organizationalRole}}
..{{EX:cn: Manager}}

. Now, you may run {{ldapadd}}(1) to insert these entries into
your directory.

..{{EX:ldapadd -x -D "cn=Manager,dc=<MY-DOMAIN>,dc=<COM>" -W -f example.ldif}}

. Be sure to replace {{EX:<MY-DOMAIN>}} and {{EX:<COM>}} with the
appropriate domain components of your domain name.  You will be
prompted for the "{{EX:secret}}" specified in {{F:slapd.conf}}. 
For example, for {{EX:example.com}}, use:

..{{EX:ldapadd -x -D "cn=Manager,dc=example,dc=com" -W -f example.ldif}}

. where {{F:example.ldif}} is the file you created above.
..{{EX: }}
. Additional information regarding directory creation can be found
in the {{SECT:Database Creation and Maintenance Tools}} chapter of
this document.

.{{S: }}
+{{B:See if it works}}.

. Now we're ready to verify the added entries are in your directory.  
You can use any LDAP client to do this, but our example uses the
{{ldapsearch}}(1) tool.  Remember to replace {{EX:dc=example,dc=com}}
with the correct values for your site:

..{{EX:ldapsearch -x -b 'dc=example,dc=com' '(objectclass=*)'}}

. This command will search for and retrieve every entry in the database.

You are now ready to add more entries using {{ldapadd}}(1) or
another LDAP client, experiment with various configuration options,
backend arrangements, etc..

Note that by default, the {{slapd}}(8) database grants {{read access
to everybody}} excepting the {{super-user}} (as specified by the
{{EX:rootdn}} configuration directive).  It is highly recommended
that you establish controls to restrict access to authorized users.
Access controls are discussed in the {{SECT:Access Control}} chapter.
You are also encouraged to read the {{SECT:Security Considerations}},
{{SECT:Using SASL}} and {{SECT:Using TLS}} sections.

The following chapters provide more detailed information on making,
installing, and running {{slapd}}(8).
