SLAPD-PERL(5) File Formats Manual SLAPD-PERL(5)
NAME
slapd-perl - Perl backend to slapd
SYNOPSIS
/etc/ldap/slapd.conf
DESCRIPTION
The Perl backend to slapd(8) works by embedding a perl(1) interpreter
into slapd(8). Any perl database section of the configuration file
slapd.conf(5) must then specify what Perl module to use. Slapd then
creates a new Perl object that handles all the requests for that partic-
ular instance of the backend.
You will need to create a method for each one of the following actions:
* new # creates a new object,
* search # performs the ldap search,
* compare # does a compare,
* modify # modifies an entry,
* add # adds an entry to backend,
* modrdn # modifies an entry's rdn,
* delete # deletes an ldap entry,
* config # module-specific config directives,
* init # called after backend is initialized.
Unless otherwise specified, the methods return the result code which
will be returned to the client. Unimplemented actions can just return
unwillingToPerform (53).
new This method is called when the configuration file encounters a
perlmod line. The module in that line is then effectively `use'd
into the perl interpreter, then the new method is called to cre-
ate a new object. Note that multiple instances of that object
may be instantiated, as with any perl object. The new method re-
ceives the class name as argument.
search This method is called when a search request comes from a client.
It arguments are as follows:
* object reference
* base DN
* scope
* alias dereferencing policy
* size limit
* time limit
* filter string
* attributes only flag (1 for yes)
* list of attributes to return (may be empty)
Return value: (resultcode, ldif-entry, ldif-entry, ...)
compare
This method is called when a compare request comes from a client.
Its arguments are as follows.
* object reference
* dn
* attribute assertion string
modify This method is called when a modify request comes from a client.
Its arguments are as follows.
* object reference
* dn
* a list formatted as follows
({ "ADD" | "DELETE" | "REPLACE" },
attributetype, value...)...
add This method is called when a add request comes from a client.
Its arguments are as follows.
* object reference
* entry in string format
modrdn This method is called when a modrdn request comes from a client.
Its arguments are as follows.
* object reference
* dn
* new rdn
* delete old dn flag (1 means yes)
delete This method is called when a delete request comes from a client.
Its arguments are as follows.
* object reference
* dn
config This method is called once for each perlModuleConfig line in the
slapd.conf(5) configuration file. Its arguments are as follows.
* object reference
* array of arguments on line
Return value: nonzero if this is not a valid option.
init This method is called after backend is initialized. Its argument
is as follows.
* object reference
Return value: nonzero if initialization failed.
CONFIGURATION
These slapd.conf options apply to the PERL backend database. That is,
they must follow a "database perl" line and come before any subsequent
"backend" or "database" lines. Other database options are described in
the slapd.conf(5) manual page.
perlModulePath /path/to/libs
Add the path to the @INC variable.
perlModule ModName
`Use' the module name ModName from ModName.pm
filterSearchResults
Search results are candidates that need to be filtered (with the
filter in the search request), rather than search results to be
returned directly to the client.
perlModuleConfig <arguments>
Invoke the module's config method with the given arguments.
EXAMPLE
There is an example Perl module `SampleLDAP' in the slapd/back-perl/ di-
rectory in the OpenLDAP source tree.
ACCESS CONTROL
The perl backend does not honor any of the access control semantics de-
scribed in slapd.access(5); all access control is delegated to the un-
derlying PERL scripting. Only read (=r) access to the entry pseudo-at-
tribute and to the other attribute values of the entries returned by the
search operation is honored, which is performed by the frontend.
WARNING
The interface of this backend to the perl module MAY change. Any sug-
gestions would greatly be appreciated.
Note: in previous versions, any unrecognized lines in the slapd.conf
file were passed to the perl module's config method. This behavior is
deprecated (but still allowed for backward compatibility), and the
perlModuleConfig directive should instead be used to invoke the module's
config method. This compatibility feature will be removed at some future
date.
FILES
/etc/ldap/slapd.conf
default slapd configuration file
SEE ALSO
slapd.conf(5), slapd(8), perl(1).
OpenLDAP 2.6.10+dfsg-1 2025/05/22 SLAPD-PERL(5)
Generated by dwww version 1.16 on Tue Dec 16 04:46:57 CET 2025.