Json2Ldap explained

Json2Ldap
Developer:	NimbusDS
Latest Release Version:	3.0.2
Operating System:	Cross-platform
Platform:	Java
Genre:	Middleware
License:	Proprietary
Website:	http://connect2id.com

Json2Ldap is a JSON-to-LDAP gateway software, written in Java and developed by Nimbus Directory Services.^[1] It provides a JSON-RPC 2.0 interface for web clients to access one or more LDAP v3 - compatible directories.^[2] The Json2Ldap web API supports the standard LDAP directory requests as well as several extended operations and controls.^[3]

Background

Json2Ldap was initially conceived as a lightweight JSON alternative to existing XML-based gateways for providing directory service access to web browsers. Its first official release was in May 2010.^[4] In May 2011 development of the software was passed to Nimbus Directory Services.^[5]

Interface specification

Json2Ldap provides a JSON web interface for establishing LDAP client connections to one or more directory servers.

Client web interface:

• Version 2.0 of the JSON-RPC protocol.
• Requests are accepted over HTTP POST.
• Optional support for Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) requests.

Supported standard LDAP directory operations (as per RFC 4510):

• Bind (authenticate): simple, plain SASL, digest MD5 SASL, anonymous
• Search
• Compare
• Add a new entry
• Delete an entry
• Modify an entry
• Modify distinguished name (DN)
• Unbind

Supported extended LDAP operations:

• Password Modify (RFC 3062)
• StartTLS (RFC 4511)
• Who am I (RFC 4532)

Supported extended LDAP controls:

• Authorisation identity bind control (RFC 3829).
• Server-side sorting of search results (RFC 2891).
• Simple paged results (RFC 2696).
• Virtual-list-view search control (draft-ietf-ldapext-ldapv3-vlv-09)
• Sub-tree delete (draft-armijo-ldap-treedelete-02).

Non-standard extensions:

• Secure Remote Password protocol (SRP-6a) authentication.

Example messages

Example request message

Example directory search request:

Example response message

Example directory search response:

System requirements

Json2Ldap is distributed as a Java web application archive (WAR) for deployment in a Java servlet container.^[6]

See also

• JSON-RPC
• List of LDAP software

Notes and References

1. Web site: Announcement of Nimbus Directory Services taking over Json2Ldap development.
2. Web site: Network World, Security Identity Management Alert, 2010-07-20. 20 July 2010 .
3. Web site: Json2Ldap web API.
4. Web site: Give your LDAP server a JSON front-end.
5. Web site: Announcement of Nimbus Directory Services taking over Json2Ldap development.
6. Web site: Json2Ldap system requirements.