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Cloudron Forum

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  1. Cloudron Forum
  2. Feature Requests
  3. LDAP/AD Server

LDAP/AD Server

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Solved Feature Requests
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  • imc67I Offline
    imc67I Offline
    imc67
    translator
    wrote on last edited by imc67
    #7

    It would be extremely convenient to have Cloudron as a LDAP server (app) and contains "the one and only truth" about usermanagement (all users/groups etc) so external systems (like local NAS) can make use of it.

    Is that feasible, easy to do, safe ...?

    1 Reply Last reply
    3
    • yusfY Offline
      yusfY Offline
      yusf
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      I know @murgero prototyped an LDAP-app a while back.

      1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • girishG Offline
        girishG Offline
        girish
        Staff
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        @imc67 Yes, agreed. we will investigate this as part of our roadmap for next release.

        1 Reply Last reply
        5
        • nebulonN Offline
          nebulonN Offline
          nebulon
          Staff
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          Some more info about this at https://forum.cloudron.io/topic/2559/cloudron-ldap-access-for-external-apps/7 lets discuss further in this thread.

          Both concepts are possible, either expose the built-in ldap server or provide an app, which exposes the ldap functionality. Not sure which ones is better or worse for which use-cases.

          yusfY 1 Reply Last reply
          4
          • nebulonN nebulon

            Some more info about this at https://forum.cloudron.io/topic/2559/cloudron-ldap-access-for-external-apps/7 lets discuss further in this thread.

            Both concepts are possible, either expose the built-in ldap server or provide an app, which exposes the ldap functionality. Not sure which ones is better or worse for which use-cases.

            yusfY Offline
            yusfY Offline
            yusf
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            @nebulon I guess one feature of an app based approach can take advantage of the app level access controls, so that the external use of the LDAP easily can be limited to certain groups and users.

            1 Reply Last reply
            4
            • nebulonN Offline
              nebulonN Offline
              nebulon
              Staff
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              That is a good point. In that case the app could also contain a small UI to configure ldap admin bind credentials for searches I guess.

              1 Reply Last reply
              4
              • alexanderkingsA Offline
                alexanderkingsA Offline
                alexanderkings
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                Hello, I have been redirected from a support email...

                I think my concern is similar to that of other users who need this feature.

                Looking on github i found this:
                https://github.com/mitchellurgero/cloudron-ldap-proxy

                Security Warnings
                THIS CAN POTENTIALLY EXPOSE YOUR CLOUDRON'S INTERNAL LDAP SERVER TO THE WORLD. DO NOT USE THIS APP IN PRODUCTION IN ANY WAY!!!!

                I have not tried it yet, but think that with some precautions it can be implemented...

                iamthefijI 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • alexanderkingsA alexanderkings

                  Hello, I have been redirected from a support email...

                  I think my concern is similar to that of other users who need this feature.

                  Looking on github i found this:
                  https://github.com/mitchellurgero/cloudron-ldap-proxy

                  Security Warnings
                  THIS CAN POTENTIALLY EXPOSE YOUR CLOUDRON'S INTERNAL LDAP SERVER TO THE WORLD. DO NOT USE THIS APP IN PRODUCTION IN ANY WAY!!!!

                  I have not tried it yet, but think that with some precautions it can be implemented...

                  iamthefijI Offline
                  iamthefijI Offline
                  iamthefij
                  App Dev
                  wrote on last edited by iamthefij
                  #14

                  @alexanderkings I haven't finished the step of migrating this to a Cloudron app, but I've been using mole to securely forward ports between networks using SSH Private/Public keys. My Docker implementation is Dockamole.

                  I'm using it already outside of Cloudron to allow my VPS to scrape metrics generated on my home NAS.

                  The workflow would require a Server container running on Cloudron and then a Client container running on whatever machine you'd like to access the forwarded port. All services on that machine access the service through the local container and it's forwarded to the server container.

                  Like I said... I haven't gotten it running on Cloudron yet though.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • F Offline
                    F Offline
                    friep2
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    just came here to add my +1 for this. i'm currently looking into cloudron for our tech-focused NPO with over 1000 volunteers and it'd be great to have some (at least basic) LDAP server to integrate with "from the outside". we self-host some more specialized tools (partially other open source tools, partially self-developed) which are not on Cloudron - rightfully so - and it'd be super convenient if we could integrate with Cloudron's LDAP.
                    The "one login for a lot of services" and permission management (certain apps can only be accessed by certain people) is definitely one of the main attractions of cloudron I see for us and it'd be great if this would be extensible to external apps. This would radically reduce the workload for us full-time employees: right now we have to add volunteers to 5+ different services if we want to properly onboard them.

                    infogulchI 1 Reply Last reply
                    2
                    • F friep2

                      just came here to add my +1 for this. i'm currently looking into cloudron for our tech-focused NPO with over 1000 volunteers and it'd be great to have some (at least basic) LDAP server to integrate with "from the outside". we self-host some more specialized tools (partially other open source tools, partially self-developed) which are not on Cloudron - rightfully so - and it'd be super convenient if we could integrate with Cloudron's LDAP.
                      The "one login for a lot of services" and permission management (certain apps can only be accessed by certain people) is definitely one of the main attractions of cloudron I see for us and it'd be great if this would be extensible to external apps. This would radically reduce the workload for us full-time employees: right now we have to add volunteers to 5+ different services if we want to properly onboard them.

                      infogulchI Offline
                      infogulchI Offline
                      infogulch
                      wrote on last edited by infogulch
                      #16

                      @friep2 As a fellow regular user, could I ask you to elaborate a bit on why it would be inappropriate to package up the "open-source / self-developed" apps to run inside Cloudron directly? This is an honest question, I'm quite curious about how different people perceive the limits of Cloudron. I'm sure you have considered many different options for deployment.

                      F 1 Reply Last reply
                      1
                      • ? Offline
                        ? Offline
                        A Former User
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        LDAP to the world would be interesting. I could also see a usecase for something like a SAML provider to redirect apps to a cloudron instance for SSO.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        1
                        • marcusquinnM Offline
                          marcusquinnM Offline
                          marcusquinn
                          wrote on last edited by marcusquinn
                          #18

                          Big 👍 for this from me. What can we do to get this happening?

                          First use would be with Unify apps and devices, so Cloudron could be a single source of logins, and single place to decommissions logins too for those moving on.

                          Web Design https://www.evergreen.je
                          Development https://brandlight.org
                          Life https://marcusquinn.com

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          1
                          • ? Offline
                            ? Offline
                            A Former User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            I think the only way this could be better is adding support for custom external apps added to the dashboard (they just link out).

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            3
                            • marcusquinnM Offline
                              marcusquinnM Offline
                              marcusquinn
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              Just noting a link to a comment from @luckow on a similar post I made before seeing this one, with some alternative solution links: https://forum.cloudron.io/topic/4933/have-a-cloudron-instance-as-an-ldap-provider/6?_=1618906250553

                              I think this thread has the right ultimate goal - but that might be something I have to investigate an intermediary solution for if this doesn't get on the roadmap.

                              Web Design https://www.evergreen.je
                              Development https://brandlight.org
                              Life https://marcusquinn.com

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              1
                              • girishG Offline
                                girishG Offline
                                girish
                                Staff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                I wanted to explain a bit why we have not exposed the LDAP: Cloudron has a minimal user database. This is exposed with LDAP protocol for the sake of app authentication. But it's not a real directory server. A real directory server requires storing a LOT more user information (well atleast that's what people expect from a real LDAP server) like say phone numbers, photos etc.

                                The other aspect is, of course, security. It's not a good idea to expose the LDAP server straight to the internets. We have to make some mechanisms to only allow specific IPs to connect to LDAP server etc. This is easily doable.

                                Are you ok with living the minimal user database limitation? If so, we can look into it.

                                robiR marcusquinnM 2 Replies Last reply
                                4
                                • girishG girish

                                  I wanted to explain a bit why we have not exposed the LDAP: Cloudron has a minimal user database. This is exposed with LDAP protocol for the sake of app authentication. But it's not a real directory server. A real directory server requires storing a LOT more user information (well atleast that's what people expect from a real LDAP server) like say phone numbers, photos etc.

                                  The other aspect is, of course, security. It's not a good idea to expose the LDAP server straight to the internets. We have to make some mechanisms to only allow specific IPs to connect to LDAP server etc. This is easily doable.

                                  Are you ok with living the minimal user database limitation? If so, we can look into it.

                                  robiR Offline
                                  robiR Offline
                                  robi
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  VPN to Cloudron for LDAP is reasonable.

                                  LDAP should only work for auth'd users, so externally it just needs an interface to do that.

                                  One thing that comes up is that external LDAP users only should exist which means not allowing them to log in to the Cloudron dashboard is a thing.

                                  Conscious tech

                                  girishG 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • girishG girish

                                    I wanted to explain a bit why we have not exposed the LDAP: Cloudron has a minimal user database. This is exposed with LDAP protocol for the sake of app authentication. But it's not a real directory server. A real directory server requires storing a LOT more user information (well atleast that's what people expect from a real LDAP server) like say phone numbers, photos etc.

                                    The other aspect is, of course, security. It's not a good idea to expose the LDAP server straight to the internets. We have to make some mechanisms to only allow specific IPs to connect to LDAP server etc. This is easily doable.

                                    Are you ok with living the minimal user database limitation? If so, we can look into it.

                                    marcusquinnM Offline
                                    marcusquinnM Offline
                                    marcusquinn
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    @girish Absolutely, it really is just for having a master User record & Password for all the peripheral apps that support connection and then Cloudron could be a master on & off switch for each too.

                                    @nebulon IF we get this, maybe worth considering making the Surfer user icon configurable, as I'd use some Surfer instances with .htaccess redirects to the 3rd-party apps, in the spirit of Cloudron being the gateway to all.

                                    Web Design https://www.evergreen.je
                                    Development https://brandlight.org
                                    Life https://marcusquinn.com

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    3
                                    • marcusquinnM Offline
                                      marcusquinnM Offline
                                      marcusquinn
                                      wrote on last edited by marcusquinn
                                      #24

                                      Custom Image installation for UCS for anyone looking into that option:

                                      • https://docs.hetzner.com/robot/dedicated-server/operating-systems/installing-custom-images/
                                      • https://www.univention.com/downloads/download-ucs/
                                      • https://www.univention.com/blog-en/2020/05/register-your-own-account-new-self-service-for-suse-and-ucs/
                                      • https://docs.software-univention.de/quickstart-en.html

                                      Web Design https://www.evergreen.je
                                      Development https://brandlight.org
                                      Life https://marcusquinn.com

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      2
                                      • robiR robi

                                        VPN to Cloudron for LDAP is reasonable.

                                        LDAP should only work for auth'd users, so externally it just needs an interface to do that.

                                        One thing that comes up is that external LDAP users only should exist which means not allowing them to log in to the Cloudron dashboard is a thing.

                                        girishG Offline
                                        girishG Offline
                                        girish
                                        Staff
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        @robi said in LDAP/AD Server:

                                        VPN to Cloudron for LDAP is reasonable.

                                        I think that would then mean that the external app has to be in the VPN, no?

                                        robiR LonkleL 2 Replies Last reply
                                        0
                                        • girishG girish

                                          @robi said in LDAP/AD Server:

                                          VPN to Cloudron for LDAP is reasonable.

                                          I think that would then mean that the external app has to be in the VPN, no?

                                          robiR Offline
                                          robiR Offline
                                          robi
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          @girish said in LDAP/AD Server:

                                          @robi said in LDAP/AD Server:

                                          VPN to Cloudron for LDAP is reasonable.

                                          I think that would then mean that the external app has to be in the VPN, no?

                                          Kind of.. the app just needs to know to use the VPN interface for that need.

                                          Conscious tech

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