LDAP vs OpenLDAP: What’s the Difference?

LDAP stands for “Lightweight Directory Access Protocol” and is a protocol that specifies how a directory is structured and how resources can communicate with that directory.

OpenLDAP is an open-source implementation that delivers a software version of the LDAP directory. It allows you to build and manage your directory via command line.

To summarize: LDAP is a protocol, and OpenLDAP is a software implementation of that protocol.

To further understand LDAP, let’s answer the question, “What is a directory?”

A directory is a container that houses critical information. Typically, this is user information required for the authentication and authorization of resources. These resources can be myriad, from applications to Linux servers, Macs, and more.

JumpCloud has modernized it all. Think of our version as OpenLDAP — up in the cloud, virtualized around the world. The only thing you need to worry about as a system administrator is tethering, or otherwise integrating both cloud-based and on-premise resources to our LDAP endpoint.

The JumpCloud endpoint can be found on our website and can utilize the 636 port, which is the SSL, or most secure, method. But we also offer our 389 port, which we recommend you start using TLS on.

Do you have additional questions about LDAP, OpenLDAP, or JumpCloud’s cloud-hosted LDAP? Let us know in the comments below!

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#LDAP #OpenLDAP #JumpCloud