Query LDAP Objects as a SQL Server in Node.js

You can use CData Connect Server to query LDAP objects through a SQL Server interface. Follow the procedure below to create a virtual database for LDAP in Connect Server and start querying using Node.js.

CData Connect Server provides a pure SQL Server interface for LDAP, allowing you to easily build reports from live LDAP objects in Node.js — without replicating the data to a natively supported database. As you build visualizations, Node.js generates SQL queries to gather data. Using optimized data processing out of the box, CData Connect Server pushes all supported SQL operations (filters, JOINs, etc) directly to LDAP, leveraging server-side processing to quickly return the requested LDAP objects.

Create a Virtual SQL Server Database for LDAP Objects

CData Connect Server uses a straightforward, point-and-click interface to connect to data sources and generate APIs.

1. Login to Connect Server and click Connections.
2. Select "LDAP" from Available Data Sources.
3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to LDAP.

   To establish a connection, the following properties under the Authentication section must be provided:

   • Valid User and Password credentials (e.g., Domain\BobF or cn=Bob F,ou=Employees,dc=Domain).
   • Server information, including the IP or host name of the Server, as well as the Port.

   • BaseDN: This will limit the scope of LDAP searches to the height of the distinguished name provided.

     Note: Specifying a narrow BaseDN may greatly increase performance; for example, cn=users,dc=domain will only return results contained within cn=users and its children.

4. Click Save Changes
5. Click Privileges -> Add and add the new user (or an existing user) with the appropriate permissions.

With the virtual database created, you are ready to connect to LDAP objects from Node.js.

Query LDAP from Node.js

The following example shows how to define a connection and execute queries to LDAP with the SQL Server module. You will need the following information:

• Host name, or address, and port: The address of your Connect Server instance and the port (1433)
• Username and password: The username and password of a user you authorized on Connect Server
• Database name: The database you configured for LDAP (LDAP1)

Connect to LDAP objects and start executing queries with the code below:

const sql = require('mssql');

const config = {
    user: 'your_connect_username', 
    password: 'your_connect_password', 
    server: 'connect_server_url', 
    port: 1433, // optional, defaults to 1433
    database: 'LDAP1',
    authentication: {
        type: 'default'
    },
    options: {
        encrypt: true
    }
}

console.log("Starting...");
connectAndQuery();

async function connectAndQuery() {
    try {
        var poolConnection = await sql.connect(config);

        console.log("Reading rows from the table...");
        var resultSet = await poolConnection.request().query(`SELECT * FROM table_name`);

        console.log(`${resultSet.recordset.length} rows returned.`);

        // output column headers
        var columns = "";
        for (var column in resultSet.recordset.columns) {
            columns += column + ", ";
        }
        console.log("%s	", columns.substring(0, columns.length - 2));

        // ouput row contents from default record set
        resultSet.recordset.forEach(row => {
            console.log("%s	%s", row.CategoryName, row.ProductName);
        });

        // close connection only when we're certain application is finished
        poolConnection.close();
    } catch (err) {
        console.error(err.message);
    }
}

SQL Server Access to LDAP Objects from Node.js

You have retrieved live LDAP Objects using Node.js. Now, you can easily access data sources and more — all without replicating LDAP objects.

To get SQL data access to 200+ SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources directly from your applications, try CData Connect Server.