Modify passwords in an LDIF file using ldapmodify command

Question

I have a LDIF file that consists of a set of test users and I would like to change the passwords for these users.

I used the ldapmodify command:

ldapmodify -c -a -f filename.ldif -h localhost -p <port> -D dn -w <pwd> << !

dn: uid=<userid>,dc=<branch>,DC=COM
changetype: modify
replace: userPassword
userPassword: <new pwd>
!

And I get the following error:

ldap_sasl_interactive_bind_s: Can't contact LDAP server (-1)

1. What does this mean?
2. The syntax I have used can be used for only one user, I would like to modify the passwords of all the test users in my LDIF file. Is there a way to do so?

Answer 1

The given error is an indication that the server specified by the hostname and port could not be contacted, that is, a connection could not be established. Also, the legacy OpenLDAP ldapmodify client defaults to a SASL bind when the -x command line option is not specified.

The LDIF input can contain any number of entries to be modified, not just one:

dn: uid=abc,dc=example,dc=com
changetype: modify
replace: userPassword
userPassword: the-new-password

dn: uid=def,dc=example,dc=com
changetype: modify
replace: userPassword
userPassword: another-new-password

see also

• LDAP: Mastering ldapmodify