I've got my web server set up with LDAP protection on a web server directory. It all works but its all unencrypted. The LDAP is on another server by itself. Now I want to encrypt the connections.

Question: To encrypt credentials on a protected apache web server directory, I need to use both https and ldaps - is that correct?



[browser]---https:---->[apache server]---ldaps:--->[ldap server]


Using just httpS & ldap OR http & ldapS would transmit a plain password part of the way, right? Or is there something else I don't understand?

Thanks. I'm on a fast learning curve and trying to sort out my confusion.

Usually, in practice, I see LDAP servers being accessed through (often, hardware) VPN tunnels . . .

That is correct, Coldbeer.... https->ldaps.

I've got it working now. I have https to the client (browser) via a self-signed certificate. Then on the LDAP side I have the normal ldap:// connection (not ldaps://) with a STARTTLS command appended to AuthLDAPURL statement in httpd.conf. Also LDAPVerifyServerCert off at the root level of httpd.conf.

I've been using wireshark to verify the connections and it all looks good now.