Howard Chu wrote:
OpenLDAP does not have a steep learning curve. Just for example, a few people came up to me after my SCALE talk to say how brain-dead easy it was to get OpenLDAP up and running after struggling unsuccessfully with other servers.
Using OpenLDAP requires that you know LDAP, and if you don't have that knowledge, then yes, there's a steep learning curve. But that curve is there no matter whose LDAP software you use.
Just my two cents, but I think that I'd clarify this a little.. using OpenLDAP for trivial (or perhaps default may be a better term) functionality does NOT have a steep learning curve. However, using OpenLDAP for more advanced behavior does, IMHO, have a steep learning curve.
Most of this is due not to actual complexity, but a lack of cohesive documentation which has of course been brought up on this thread. I just think that it is indeed important to acknowledge that the documentation situation does in fact steepen the learning curve. (I find this particularly true for syncrepl replication, and for overlays and their interaction with each other)
I agree that the community at large bears a large responsibility for helping to work on documentation, and I'm of course as guilty as the rest for not actually contributing. OpenLDAP is indeed a great LDAP server, and I thank you and all who contribute to it for your hard work.
Cheers,
Joseph Dickson Unix Administrator - WEYCO, INC. | jdd@weyco.com | 800.748.0003 ext 1216