The following is a list of software programs that can communicate with and/or host directory services via the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).
Server software Product Vendor Software license Initial Release Last Release Last Version Comments 389 Directory Server Red Hat with exception to allow linking to non-GPL 2005, Dec, 2024, May 15 3.1.0 Formerly Fedora Directory Server Microsoft Entra ID Microsoft 2008, Oct 27 2025 ? Known as Azure Active Directory (AAD) as well Red Hat Identity Manager (IdM) Red Hat 2008, Apr 1 2024 4.12 Fork of FreeIPA. Based on (RHEL 9.10 Active Directory Microsoft 2000 2024, Nov 1 91 (WS 2025) Integrated on Windows Server Authorized Entities Directory (Æ-DIR) Michael Ströder Based on OpenLDAP with additional tools Apache Directory Server Apache Software Foundation 2006, Oct 2023, Oct 23 2.0.0-AM27 Apple Open Directory - Apple Inc. A fork of the OpenLDAP project CA Directory CA Technologies 2024, Dec 2 14.1 CA Tech was acquired by Broadcom Inc in 2018 Directory services - ForgeRock A fork of the OpenDJ project DirX Directory Atos (ex-Siemens) FreeIPA GNU 2008, Apr 1 2024, June 10 4.12.1 Using 389 Directory Server IBM Tivoli Directory Server IBM 2024, Oct 7 7.5 Mandriva Directory Server Mandriva development team 2011 2021, Nov 23 Now part of Mandriva Management Console Meerkat DSA Wildboar Software Also supports the full X.500 directory protocols: DAP, DSP, and DOP Nexor Directory NetIQ eDirectory NetIQ 1993 2023, May 31 9.2.8 Successor. Originally known as Novell Directory Services (NDS). Successr of eDirectory and NDS. OpenDJ Open Identity Platform Community 2010, Dec 21 2024, May 7 4.6.3 A fork of the OpenDS project developed by ForgeRock, until 2016, now maintained by OpenDJ Community OpenDS Sun Microsystems 2024, May 7 4.6.3 CDDL-licensed product no longer maintained, now Oracle Unified Directory. OpenLDAP Kurt Zeilenga and others (based on Slapd) 1998, Aug 26 2024, Nov 26 2.6.9 LDAP clone from University of Michigan Oracle Directory Server Enterprise Edition Oracle, based on Sun DSEE 11g Oracle Internet Directory Oracle 2023, Jan 12.2.1.4 Oracle Unified Directory (OUD) Oracle, based on OpenDS 2024, Apr 12.2.1.4 Based on OpenDJ Red Hat Directory Server Red Hat 2024, May 15 3.1.0 Commercial version of 389 Directory Server Samba4 Samba Team 1992, Jan 2025, Jan 6 4.21.3 Active Directory compatible Domain Controller Slapd University of Michigan 1993 1996 Standalone LDAP Daemon. Superseded by OpenLDAPUMich DirSvcs Sun Java System Directory Server Sun Microsystems 2011 2011 No longer maintained
Server software (Env + Auth + Access) Name Environment Interface Authentication Heterogenous Agnostic AD GUI CLI IAM SSO MFA NTLM KDC SA[S,M]L OAuth OIDC FS Active Directory Apache Directory Server Red Hat Directory Server FreeIPA OpenLDAP Microsoft Entra ID
FS: Federation Services
Server software (Features) Name Features Replication GPO LDIF PKI LDAP NTP DNS DHCP POP3 IMAP SMB CIFS BRS DRS Active Directory Apache Directory Server Red Hat Directory Server FreeIPA Red Hat IdM OpenLDAP Azure Active Directory
BRS: Backup Recovery System Backup and Restore DRP: Disaster Recovery Plan IT disaster recovery
Client software
Cross-platform Apache Directory Server/Studio - an LDAP browser and directory client for Linux, OS X, and Microsoft Windows, and as a plug-in for the Eclipse development environment. JXplorer - a Java-based browser that runs in any operating environment. LDAP Account Manager - a PHP based webfrontend for managing various account types in an LDAP directory. phpLDAPadmin - a web-based LDAP administration tool for creating and editing LDAP entries in any LDAP server. RoundCube - an open source and free PHP IMAP client with support with LDAP based address books. OpenDJ - a Java-based LDAP server and directory client that runs in any operating environment, under license CDDL
Linux/UNIX Evolution - the contacts part of GNOME's PIM can query LDAP servers. KAddressBook - the address book application for KDE, capable of querying LDAP servers. OpenLDAP - a free, open source implementation. System Security Services Daemon (SSSD) - a system service to access remote directories and authentication mechanisms
Mac OS X Contacts - an LDAP-aware address book application built into Mac OS X. Directory Utility - a utility for configuring access to several types of directory servers, including LDAP; built into Mac OS X. Workgroup Manager - a utility for configuring access to several types of directory servers, including LDAP; built into Mac OS X Server and one of Apple's Server Admin Tools. Slapd - from the Univ of Michigan
Microsoft Windows Active Directory Explorer - a freeware LDAP client tool from Microsoft LDAP Admin - a free, open source LDAP directory browser and editor
Middleware Json2Ldap - a JSON-RPC-to-LDAP gateway
Notes
References