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Archive date: 2026-01-04

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In today’s era of digital transformation, efficient user identity management is crucial for organizations striving to maintain operational agility and security. As businesses expand, the challenge of keeping user information synchronized across various platforms becomes increasingly complex—particularly with on-premise directories such as Active Directory (AD).

IBM MaaS360, a leading unified endpoint management (UEM) solution, addresses this challenge by enabling seamless user synchronization from Active Directory through its Cloud Extender.

The User Visibility module within the Cloud Extender ensures smooth integration between AD and MaaS360, streamlining user identity management and access control. This synchronization simplifies administrative workflows, enhances directory visibility, and provides IT teams with up-to-date user data—ensuring secure device enrollment and continuous monitoring.

This tutorial explores how to configure the Cloud Extender for optimal user synchronization with Active Directory, enabling organizations to improve user management and secure access across their digital environment.

Prerequisites

Before implementing the IBM MaaS360 Cloud Extender for user synchronization with Active Directory, ensure that the following technical requirements are met:

IBM MaaS360 portal access
- Administrator access: Ensure you have administrator-level access to the IBM MaaS360 Admin Portal. This access is required to download the Cloud Extender installer and configure the User Visibility module.
Windows Server machine
- Operating system: The Cloud Extender must be installed on a Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer machine with local administrator privileges.
- Resources: Ensure the server has sufficient CPU, RAM, and disk space to run the Cloud Extender and handle user synchronization operations.
Active Directory credentials
- Domain credentials: Obtain administrative credentials (e.g., Administrator or a domain account with equivalent privileges) that allow you to query and synchronize users from Active Directory.
- Permissions: Ensure that the AD account used for synchronization has permission to read user objects and attributes in the Organizational Units (OUs) you intend to sync.
Active Directory and Network configuration
- LDAP server information: Gather the necessary LDAP details, including:
  - LDAP Server Address: e.g., dc1.company.local or 192.168.1.x.
  - Port: Default is 389 for LDAP or 636 if using SSL.
- DNS resolution: Ensure the server running Cloud Extender can resolve the FQDN of the LDAP server. Test DNS resolution with:
```
nslookup dc1.company.local
```
- Firewall settings: Verify that the following ports are open for communication between Cloud Extender, Active Directory, and the MaaS360 portal:
  - Port 389 (or 636 if SSL is enabled) for LDAP communication.
  - Port 443 for secure communication between Cloud Extender and the IBM MaaS360 cloud.
Certificates for LDAP over SSL (Optional)
- If using LDAP over SSL, ensure the LDAP server has a valid SSL certificate installed.
- The Cloud Extender must trust the certificate chain used by the LDAP server. Import the root and intermediate CA certificates, if necessary.
Prerequisites for the Cloud Extender software
- Cloud Extender installation package: Download the installer from the Extensions section of the MaaS360 Admin Portal.
- Installation path: Ensure the Cloud Extender is installed in a path that allows access to the necessary network resources (no access restrictions).
PowerShell configuration for Directory details (Optional)
- PowerShell version: Ensure Windows PowerShell 5.1 or newer is installed. PowerShell can be used to fetch organizational details, such as:
```
Get-ADOrganizationalUnit -Filter * | Select-Object Name, DistinguishedName
```
This command helps identify and verify the exact OUs from Active Directory to synchronize.
Synchronizing specific users (user visibility scope)
- Pre-determine the scope of user synchronization. Identify which Organizational Units (OUs) contain the users you want to synchronize with MaaS360. These OUs should be listed when configuring the Cloud Extender’s User Visibility module.
- You can choose to synchronize all users from Active Directory or specify particular OUs for synchronization to ensure tighter control over user data.
Network connectivity for Cloud Extender
- Internet access: The server running Cloud Extender needs a stable Internet connection to communicate with MaaS360 services.
- Connectivity test: Use the following command to test LDAP connection:
```
telnet dc1.company.local 389
```
If using SSL, test connectivity with:
```
 telnet dc1.company.local 636
```

Important notes

High availability: For large deployments, consider installing Cloud Extender on multiple servers for load balancing and redundancy.
Service account permissions: Ensure that the service account running the Cloud Extender service has the necessary privileges in Active Directory to query and synchronize users.
Security considerations: Regularly audit the access permissions of the AD account used for synchronization to maintain compliance with security policies.

Steps

Step 1. Integrating Active Directory

Start Cloud Extender setup
1. Log in to the MaaS360 Admin Portal.
2. Navigate to the Cloud Extender Configuration Tool.
3. Select the User Visibility Module to begin configuring Active Directory synchronization.
Define user synchronization scope
1. In the Corporate Directory section, select Active Directory as your directory source.
2. Choose which users to synchronize:
3. Synchronize all users and group data: This option syncs all users from your Active Directory.
4. Synchronize specific users, groups, and Organizational Units (OUs): This allows you to select particular OUs to synchronize. (For this setup, proceed with syncing all users.)
Provide service account details
1. Enter the Service Account Credentials with the necessary AD permissions:
2. Username: Enter the service account username, e.g., hfang.
3. Password: Provide the corresponding password for the service account.
4. Domain: Specify the domain name, e.g., ipvlab.
5. Verify that the service account meets these requirements:
6. AD Permissions: It should have Domain User permissions to read user objects and attributes.
7. Local Administrator Rights: Ensure the service account has Local Administrator privileges on the server where Cloud Extender is installed.
Complete the configuration
1. After entering the service account details, click Next to proceed.
2. Review the configuration settings.
3. Click Finish to complete the setup for Active Directory synchronization.

Step 2. Integrating OpenLDAP

Follow these steps to configure OpenLDAP synchronization using IBM MaaS360 Cloud Extender:

Select OpenLDAP as your corporate directory
1. Navigate to the Corporate Directory section in the Cloud Extender Configuration Tool.
2. Choose OpenLDAP as the directory type.
3. Select one of the following synchronization options:
4. Synchronize all users and group data – Syncs all users and groups from your LDAP directory.
5. Synchronize specific users, groups, and OUs – Allows you to specify specific organizational units (OUs) based on your directory structure.
Provide LDAP server and account information
1. Enter the LDAP Server Address and Port:
2. Default port: 389 for standard LDAP or 636 for LDAP over SSL.
3. Provide the LDAP Service Account Credentials:
4. Username: Enter the service account username with read access to users and groups.
5. Password: Enter the corresponding password.
6. Choose the Authentication Type (e.g., Basic).
7. If using SSL, enable it to ensure secure communication between the Cloud Extender and the LDAP server.
Provide Distinguished Names (DNs) for user and group sync
1. Search Roots for Users:
2. Enter the Distinguished Name (DN) of the OU containing the users to sync.
3. Example: OU=People,DC=yourcompany,DC=com.
4. Search Roots for Groups:
5. If applicable, enter the DN of the OU containing the groups.
6. Example: OU=Groups,DC=yourcompany,DC=com.
7. These DNs help the Cloud Extender locate the correct OUs for syncing both users and groups efficiently.
Initiate synchronization
1. After entering all the required details, click Next to save the settings.
2. The Cloud Extender will begin synchronizing users and groups from the specified OUs in your OpenLDAP directory.

Challenges

This section outlines common issues that may arise during the installation and configuration of the Cloud Extender for Active Directory and OpenLDAP synchronization, along with solutions to resolve them.

Service account permissions issues
- Description: Insufficient permissions on the service account used for integration is a frequent issue. Without the appropriate domain and administrative rights, synchronization will fail.
- Solution:
  - Active Directory: Ensure the service account has Domain User privileges and Local Administrator rights on the Cloud Extender host server.
  - OpenLDAP: Confirm that the service account has read access to the OUs containing the users to be synchronized.
LDAP server connectivity
- Description: LDAP server connectivity issues can occur due to incorrect hostnames, IP addresses, or port configurations, resulting in synchronization failures and "LDAP server not reachable" errors.
- Solution:
  - Verify that the LDAP server’s hostname/IP and port (389 for standard LDAP, 636 for SSL) are correctly specified.
  - Test network connectivity using tools like ping or telnet:
Incorrect Distinguished Names (DN)
- Description: Incorrect or incomplete Distinguished Names (DNs) for Search Roots can prevent the Cloud Extender from locating the correct users or groups.
- Solution:
  - Verify the DN structure using tools like Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) or ldapsearch (for OpenLDAP).
  - Ensure that the full DN path is entered accurately for both users and groups (e.g., OU=People,DC=yourcompany,DC=com).
SSL/TLS configuration errors
- Description: Incorrect SSL certificates or broken certificate chains can cause connection failures when SSL/TLS is enabled for secure LDAP communication.
- Solution:
  - Confirm that the SSL certificate is correctly installed and trusted by both the Cloud Extender host and the LDAP server.
  - Use port 636 for SSL connections and test using tools such as OpenSSL.
Firewall and port blocking
- Description: Firewalls or security policies blocking required ports can interrupt communication between the Cloud Extender and the directory servers.
- Solution:
  - Verify that ports 389 (LDAP) and 636 (LDAP over SSL) are open between the Cloud Extender and the LDAP/Active Directory servers.
  - Work with the network administrator to ensure no security policies are blocking the communication.
Latency and sync delays
- Description: Synchronizing large OUs with many users may result in delays or timing issues during configuration.
- Solution:
  - Allow enough time for large directories to sync.
  - Apply filters to limit the number of users or groups being synchronized to improve performance.
Failed syncs due to attribute mapping
- Description: Incorrect or missing user attribute mappings between MaaS360 and the directory can cause sync failures.
- Solution:
  - Verify that the correct attributes are mapped for synchronization:
    - Active Directory: Use samAccountName for user synchronization.
    - OpenLDAP: Use uid for identifying users.
  - Review the attribute mappings in the Cloud Extender configuration and correct any discrepancies.

Demo video

Watch the demonstratation to setup and synchronize processes between the Cloud Extender and your directory service.

Summary

In this tutorial, we explored the process of integrating IBM MaaS360 with both Active Directory (AD) and OpenLDAP, focusing on user synchronization. Using the Cloud Extender, organizations can automate user data synchronization, simplifying user management across multiple devices and platforms.

We covered key steps for configuring AD and OpenLDAP, including setting up service accounts, defining synchronization scopes, and initiating the sync process. This seamless integration offers several benefits:

Efficiency: Automated updates ensure user information stays current across systems.
Enhanced Security: Enforces directory-based policies for consistent access management.
Scalability: Supports growing organizations by streamlining the management of users and groups.

Real-time synchronization ensures that changes to user roles or group memberships are reflected immediately within MaaS360, minimizing the administrative burden on IT teams.

While challenges like DNS resolution issues, insufficient service account permissions, and SSL configuration errors may arise during installation, these can be mitigated through careful preparation, troubleshooting, and network validation.

In conclusion, integrating MaaS360 with corporate directories like Active Directory and OpenLDAP optimizes mobile device management, reduces security risks, and ensures compliance with organizational policies. This integration allows IT administrators to:

Save time by automating user management.
Strengthen security with real-time updates.
Manage devices and users efficiently at scale.

By leveraging this robust integration, enterprises can empower their IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives while maintaining control over their mobile workforce.

Next steps

Now that you’ve learned how to integrate Active Directory and OpenLDAP with IBM MaaS360, take the following steps to deepen your knowledge and enhance your experience:

Explore MaaS360
- Visit the MaaS360 product page: Discover detailed information about MaaS360’s features, benefits, and deployment options to unlock the full potential of the platform.
Join the IBM Security Community
- Engage with industry professionals: Connect with other IT experts and professionals in the IBM Security Community. Share your experiences, ask questions, and gain insights on mobile device management and directory integration.
Stay Updated
- Subscribe to the IBM Security Newsletter: Get the latest updates, tips, and resources on topics like mobile device management, directory integration, and cybersecurity. Stay ahead of trends and best practices in the field.
Try It Out!
- Start a free trial: If you haven’t already, start a free trial of MaaS360 to explore its full capabilities. See how directory synchronization simplifies user management and enhances security in real-world scenarios.

Integrating IBM MaaS360 with Active Directory and OpenLDAP

Integrating IBM MaaS360 with Active Directory and OpenLDAP