Transport Layer Security (TLS)

In order to use TLS for Solaris LDAP naming services, the directory server must use the default ports, 389 and 636, for LDAP and SSL, respectively. If your directory server does not use these ports, you cannot use TLS at this time.

TLS can be used to secure communication between an LDAP client and the directory server, providing both privacy and data integrity. The TLS protocol is a superset of the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. Solaris LDAP naming services support TLS connections. Be aware that using SSL adds load to the directory server and the client.

You will need to set up your directory server for SSL. For more information about setting up Sun Java System Directory Server for SSL, see the Administration Guide for the version of Sun Java System Directory Server that you are using. You will also need to set up your LDAP client for SSL.

If using TLS, the necessary security databases must be installed. In particular, the certificate and key database files are needed. For example, if you adopt an older database format from Netscape Communicator, two files, cert7.db and key3.db, are required. Or if you use a new database format from Mozilla, three files, cert8.db, key3.db, and secmod.db are needed. The cert7.db or cert8.dbfile contains trusted certificates. The key3.dbfile contains the client's keys. Even if the LDAP naming service client does not use client keys, this file must be present. The secmod.db file contains the security modules such as the PKCS#11 module. This file is not required if the older format is used.

See Setting Up TLS Security for more information.