SLAPD-PERL(5)

okay so this is the SLAPD-PERL(5) page from the File Formats Manual, and it's literally the Perl backend to slapd 💅. We're embedding a perl(1) interpreter into slapd(8), bestie — main character energy fr fr. 🦋

🌸 NAME 🌸

slapd-perl — Perl backend to slapd

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

/etc/openldap/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 particular instance of the backend. iykyk.

Okay so 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). no cap.

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 create a new object. Note that multiple instances of that object may be instantiated, as with any perl object. The new method receives the class name as argument.

search

This method is called when a search request comes from a client. Its 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. periodt.

• 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/ directory in the OpenLDAP source tree. go look if you want inspo.

🔐 ACCESS CONTROL 🔐

The perl backend does not honor any of the access control semantics described in slapd.access(5); all access control is delegated to the underlying PERL scripting. Only read (=r) access to the entry pseudo-attribute and to the other attribute values of the entries returned by the search operation is honored, which is performed by the frontend. that's the whole tea.

💀 WARNING 💀

The interface of this backend to the perl module MAY change. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated. fr fr, they want your ideas.

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. so don't rely on it, bestie.

📁 FILES 📁

• /etc/openldap/slapd.conf — default slapd configuration file

👀 SEE ALSO 👀

slapd.conf(5), slapd(8), perl(1).

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💖 that's the page, bestie: SLAPD-PERL(5) from OpenLDAP 2.6.16, dated 2026/10/21. mwah, go be iconic with your Perl backend 💋✨