Windows vs LDAP Authentication

Both LDAP and Active Directory are used to allow users to connect to Serv-U by using Active Directory credentials. LDAP additionally allows for authentication against other LDAP servers like Apache Directory Server and OpenLDAP.

The main difference between LDAP Groups and Windows Groups in Serv-U is the following:

• Windows Groups utilize NTFS permissions, but configuration is at the Organizational Unit only, with no hook into Security Groups.
• LDAP Groups do not leverage NTFS permissions (so Serv-U is in control of file and folder permissions) but you can use Security Groups to apply permissions and settings (though settings are not inherited by nested groups).

Even though the LDAP configuration can be slightly more difficult to set up, if an admin asks for a recommendation on which to use we would prefer LDAP due to ease of use once it is configured correctly.

• Windows Authentication online guide

• Windows Groups

• Integrating Serv-U with Windows Accounts

• Windows Groups and Organizational Units in Serv-U  -  KB Article #1977

• Enabling Windows User NT-SAM / Active Directory Support in Serv-U  -  KB Article #1412

• LDAP Authentication online guide
• LDAP User Groups
• LDAP Authentication in Serv-U  -  KB Article #2143
• LDAP Authentication - ERROR: Login was not successful  -  KB Article #2141

Being able to read and understand the log is useful for not only this issue, but for many other issues in Serv-U. If an error occurs Serv-U will most likely have the error in its log. If you see no such errors then Serv-U did not capture the issue in the connection, and with LDAP and AD authentication, we urge you to review the directory machine's log.

The following articles contain more information about setting up and understanding the log files in Serv-U:

Setting Up Serv-U's Log  -  KB Article #1357

Reading Serv-U's Log File  -  KB Article #1212

Finally we urge any administrator working with LDAP or Windows authentication to make sure their Serv-U installation is up to date.
To ensure the best experience, we advise that you upgrade to the latest version of Serv-U BEFORE configuring your advanced user authentication. If you need more information about what has been fixed or what the latest version of Serv-U is, please visit our release notes page:

http://www.serv-u.com/ReleaseNotes/

For upgrade, backup, and migration information, please refer to the following links:

http://www.serv-u.com/kb/1154/Upgrading-to-the-Latest-Version-of-ServU

http://www.serv-u.com/kb/1047/Backing-Up-or-Moving-ServU-Settings