LDAP with Evolution on Debian

packages

Install an LDAP server like so:

$ apt-get install slapd ldap-utils

tools

These are usage examples for the three most useful tools:

$ ldapadd -D cn=admin,dc=dist,dc=ro -x -W -f ldap/contacts.ldif

$ ldapdelete -D cn=admin,dc=dist,dc=ro -x -W 'cn=Joe Bloggs,dc=dist,dc=ro'

$ ldapsearch -x -L -b dc=dist,dc=ro 'pers*'

record format

Data can be imported into LDAP in bulk using LDIF format. The records are seperated by blank lines and look like this:

dn: cn=Joe Bloggs, dc=dist, dc=ro
objectClass: person
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
surname: Bloggs
commonName: Joe Bloggs
mail: joebloggs@yahoo.co.uk
telephoneNumber: XXXX XXX XXXX

Look at the files in /etc/ldap/schema to see which classes are allowed and which attributes are allowed for them.

Obviously, it's easy to generate this format with your chosen scripting language.

evolution

This is the obscure part. Create a new address book

new address book 2
Choose LDAP as the type of this new address book

new address book 2
(this dialog shows tunneled LDAP over an unprivileged port)

new address book 2

$Revision: 1.2 $, $Date: 2006/03/07 08:37:16 $