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

ProductVendorSoftware license[a]Initial ReleaseLast ReleaseLast VersionComments
389 Directory ServerRed Hat[1] with exception to allow linking to non-GPL[2]2005, Dec,2024, May 153.1.0Formerly Fedora Directory Server
Microsoft Entra IDMicrosoft2008, Oct 272025?Known as Azure Active Directory (AAD) as well
Red Hat Identity Manager (IdM)Red Hat2008, Apr 120244.12Fork of FreeIPA. Based on (RHEL 9.10
Active DirectoryMicrosoft20002024, Nov 191 (WS 2025)Integrated on Windows Server
Authorized Entities Directory (Æ-DIR)Michael StröderBased on OpenLDAP with additional tools
Apache Directory ServerApache Software Foundation2006, Oct2023, Oct 232.0.0-AM27
Apple Open Directory -Apple Inc.[3]A fork of the OpenLDAP project
CA DirectoryCA Technologies2024, Dec 214.1CA Tech was acquired by Broadcom Inc in 2018
Directory services -ForgeRockA fork of the OpenDJ project
DirX DirectoryAtos (ex-Siemens)[citation needed]
FreeIPAGNU2008, Apr 12024, June 104.12.1Using 389 Directory Server
IBM Tivoli Directory ServerIBM2024, Oct 77.5
Mandriva Directory ServerMandriva development team20112021, Nov 23Now part of Mandriva Management Console
Meerkat DSAWildboar SoftwareAlso supports the full X.500 directory protocols: DAP, DSP, and DOP
Nexor Directory[citation needed][citation needed]
NetIQ eDirectoryNetIQ19932023, May 319.2.8Successor. Originally known as Novell Directory Services (NDS). Successr of eDirectory and NDS.
OpenDJOpen Identity Platform Community2010, Dec 212024, May 74.6.3A fork of the OpenDS project developed by ForgeRock, until 2016,[4] now maintained by OpenDJ Community
OpenDSSun Microsystems2024, May 74.6.3CDDL-licensed product no longer maintained, now Oracle Unified Directory.
OpenLDAPKurt Zeilenga and others (based on Slapd)1998, Aug 262024, Nov 262.6.9LDAP clone from University of Michigan
Oracle Directory Server Enterprise Edition[5]Oracle, based on Sun DSEE11g
Oracle Internet DirectoryOracle2023, Jan12.2.1.4
Oracle Unified Directory (OUD)Oracle, based on OpenDS2024, Apr12.2.1.4Based on OpenDJ
Red Hat Directory ServerRed Hat2024, May 153.1.0Commercial version of 389 Directory Server
Samba4Samba Team1992, Jan2025, Jan 64.21.3Active Directory compatible Domain Controller
SlapdUniversity of Michigan[citation needed]19931996Standalone LDAP Daemon. Superseded by OpenLDAP[6]
Sun Java System Directory ServerSun Microsystems[citation needed]20112011No longer maintained

Server software (Env + Auth + Access)

NameEnvironmentInterfaceAuthentication
HeterogenousAgnosticADGUICLIIAMSSOMFANTLMKDCSA[S,M]LOAuthOIDCFS
Active Directory
Apache Directory Server
Red Hat Directory Server
FreeIPA
OpenLDAP
Microsoft Entra ID
  • FS: Federation Services

Server software (Features)

NameFeatures
ReplicationGPOLDIFPKILDAPNTPDNSDHCPPOP3IMAPSMBCIFSBRSDRS
Active Directory
Apache Directory Server
Red Hat Directory Server
FreeIPA
Red Hat IdM
OpenLDAP
Azure Active Directory

Client software

Cross-platform

Linux/UNIX

Mac OS X

Microsoft Windows

Middleware

Notes

  1. ^ Licenses here are a summary, and are not to be a full list of terms. Some packages may use libraries under different licenses.

References

  1. ^ "389 Directory Server - Licensing"
  2. ^ "389 Directory Server - GPL Exception License Text"
  3. ^ "Mac OS X Server Software License Agreement". Retrieved 2017-06-28.
  4. ^ "ForgeRock has shuttered the open-source community, and no longer allows new development on their platform under a permissive license". timeforafork. June 1, 2017. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  5. ^ "Oracle Directory Server Enterprise Edition". www.oracle.com. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
  6. ^ UMich DirSvcs
  7. ^ "Chapter 2. Using Active Directory as an Identity Provider for SSSD Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7"
  8. ^ Russinovich, Mark (2012-11-15). "AD Explorer". technet.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2017-06-29.