---
type: reference
stage: Manage
group: Authentication and Authorization
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
---

# Google Secure LDAP **(FREE SELF)**

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/issues/46391) in GitLab 11.9.

[Google Cloud Identity](https://cloud.google.com/identity/) provides a Secure
LDAP service that can be configured with GitLab for authentication and group sync.

Secure LDAP requires a slightly different configuration than standard LDAP servers.
The steps below cover:

- Configuring the Secure LDAP Client in the Google administrator console.
- Required GitLab configuration.

## Configuring Google LDAP client

1. Go to <https://admin.google.com/Dashboard> and sign in as a Google Workspace domain administrator.

1. Go to **Apps > LDAP > Add Client**.

1. Provide an `LDAP client name` and an optional `Description`. Any descriptive
   values are acceptable. For example, the name could be 'GitLab' and the
   description could be 'GitLab LDAP Client'. Click the **Continue** button.

   ![Add LDAP Client Step 1](img/google_secure_ldap_add_step_1.png)

1. Set **Access Permission** according to your needs. You must choose either
   'Entire domain (GitLab)' or 'Selected organizational units' for both 'Verify user
   credentials' and 'Read user information'. Select 'Add LDAP Client'

   NOTE:
   If you plan to use GitLab [LDAP Group Sync](ldap_synchronization.md#group-sync)
   , turn on 'Read group information'.

   ![Add LDAP Client Step 2](img/google_secure_ldap_add_step_2.png)

1. Download the generated certificate. This is required for GitLab to
   communicate with the Google Secure LDAP service. Save the downloaded certificates
   for later use. After downloading, click the **Continue to Client Details** button.

1. Expand the **Service Status** section and turn the LDAP client 'ON for everyone'.
   After selecting 'Save', click on the 'Service Status' bar again to collapse
   and return to the rest of the settings.

1. Expand the **Authentication** section and choose 'Generate New Credentials'.
   Copy/note these credentials for later use. After selecting 'Close', click
   on the 'Authentication' bar again to collapse and return to the rest of the settings.

Now the Google Secure LDAP Client configuration is finished. The screenshot below
shows an example of the final settings. Continue on to configure GitLab.

![LDAP Client Settings](img/google_secure_ldap_client_settings.png)

## Configuring GitLab

Edit GitLab configuration, inserting the access credentials and certificate
obtained earlier.

The following are the configuration keys that need to be modified using the
values obtained during the LDAP client configuration earlier:

- `bind_dn`: The access credentials username
- `password`: The access credentials password
- `cert`: The `.crt` file text from the downloaded certificate bundle
- `key`: The `.key` file text from the downloaded certificate bundle

**For Omnibus installations**

1. Edit `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb`:

   ```ruby
   gitlab_rails['ldap_enabled'] = true
   gitlab_rails['ldap_servers'] = YAML.load <<-EOS # remember to close this block with 'EOS' below
     main: # 'main' is the GitLab 'provider ID' of this LDAP server
       label: 'Google Secure LDAP'

       host: 'ldap.google.com'
       port: 636
       uid: 'uid'
       bind_dn: 'DizzyHorse'
       password: 'd6V5H8nhMUW9AuDP25abXeLd'
       encryption: 'simple_tls'
       verify_certificates: true
       retry_empty_result_with_codes: [80]

       tls_options:
         cert: |
           -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
           MIIDbDCCAlSgAwIBAgIGAWlzxiIfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMHcxFDASBgNVBAoTC0dvb2dsZSBJ
           bmMuMRYwFAYDVQQHEw1Nb3VudGFpbiBWaWV3MRQwEgYDVQQDEwtMREFQIENsaWVudDEPMA0GA1UE
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           ALOTy4aC38dyjESk6N8fRsKk8DN23ZX/GaNFL5OUmmA1KWzrvVC881OzNdtGm3vNOIxr9clteEG/
           tQwsmsJvQT5U+GkBt+tGKF/zm7zueHUYqTP7Pg5pxAnAei90qkIRFi17ulObyRHPYv1BbCt8pxNB
           4fG/gAXkFbCNxwh1eiQXXRTfruasCZ4/mHfX7MVm8JmWU9uAVIOLW+DSWOFhrDQduJdGBXJOyC2r
           Gqoeg9+tkBmNH/jjxpnEkFW8q7io9DdOUqqNgoidA1h9vpKTs3084sy2DOgUvKN9uXWx14uxIyYU
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           KCSvK1UmaMxNaZyTHg8JnMf0ZuRpv26iSg==
           -----END CERTIFICATE-----

         key: |
           -----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----
           MIIEvQIBADANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAASCBKcwggSjAgEAAoIBAQCzk8uGgt/HcoxEpOjfH0bCpPAz
           dt2V/xmjRS+TlJpgNSls671QvPNTszXbRpt7zTiMa/XJbXhBv7UMLJrCb0E+VPhpAbfrRihf85u8
           7nh1GKkz+z4OacQJwHovdKpCERYte7pTm8kRz2L9QWwrfKcTQeHxv4AF5BWwjccIdXokF10U367m
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           4iyUGylviUtVAgMBAAECggEAIPb0CQy0RJoX+q/lGbRVmnyJpYDf+115WNnl+mrwjdGkeZyqw4v0
           BPzkWYzUFP1esJRO6buBNFybQRFdFW0z5lvVv/zzRKq71aVUBPInxaMRyHuJ8D5lIL8nDtgVOwyE
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           GsQNKKKCiij/6TfkjnBi8ZvWR44LnKpu760g/K7psVNrKwqJG6C/8RAcgISWQQKBgQDop7BaKGhK
           1QMJJ/vnlyYFTucfGLn6bM//pzTys5Gop0tpcfX/Hf6a6Dd+zBhmC3tBmhr80XOX/PiyAIbc0lOI
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           7ViJcydItQKBgQDFmK0H0IA6W4opGQo+zQKhefooqZ+RDk9IIZMPOAtnvOM7y3rSVrfsSjzYVuMS
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           HZGZj1OsD83AoMwVLcdLDgO1kw32dkS8IQKBgFRdgoifAHqqVah7VFB9se7Y1tyi5cXWsXI+Wufr
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           +lLMq2YABw+PeJUnqdYE38xsZVHoDjBsVjFGRmbDybeQxauYT7PACy3FAoGBAK2+k9bdNQMbXp7I
           j8OszHVkJdz/WXlY1cmdDAxDwXOUGVKIlxTAf7TbiijILZ5gg0Cb+hj+zR9/oI0WXtr+mAv02jWp
           W8cSOLS4TnBBpTLjIpdu+BwbnvYeLF6MmEjNKEufCXKQbaLEgTQ/XNlchBSuzwSIXkbWqdhM1+gx
           EjtBAoGARAdMIiDMPWIIZg3nNnFebbmtBP0qiBsYohQZ+6i/8s/vautEHBEN6Q0brIU/goo+nTHc
           t9VaOkzjCmAJSLPUanuBC8pdYgLu5J20NXUZLD9AE/2bBT3OpezKcdYeI2jqoc1qlWHlNtVtdqQ2
           AcZSFJQjdg5BTyvdEDhaYUKGdRw=
           -----END PRIVATE KEY-----
   EOS
   ```

1. Save the file and [reconfigure](../../restart_gitlab.md#omnibus-gitlab-reconfigure) GitLab for the changes to take effect.

---

**For installations from source**

1. Edit `config/gitlab.yml`:

   ```yaml
   ldap:
     enabled: true
     servers:
       main: # 'main' is the GitLab 'provider ID' of this LDAP server
         label: 'Google Secure LDAP'

         host: 'ldap.google.com'
         port: 636
         uid: 'uid'
         bind_dn: 'DizzyHorse'
         password: 'd6V5H8nhMUW9AuDP25abXeLd'
         encryption: 'simple_tls'
         verify_certificates: true
         retry_empty_result_with_codes: [80]

         tls_options:
           cert: |
             -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
             MIIDbDCCAlSgAwIBAgIGAWlzxiIfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBCwUAMHcxFDASBgNVBAoTC0dvb2dsZSBJ
             bmMuMRYwFAYDVQQHEw1Nb3VudGFpbiBWaWV3MRQwEgYDVQQDEwtMREFQIENsaWVudDEPMA0GA1UE
             CxMGR1N1aXRlMQswCQYDVQQGEwJVUzETMBEGA1UECBMKQ2FsaWZvcm5pYTAeFw0xOTAzMTIyMTE5
             MThaFw0yMjAzMTEyMTE5MThaMHcxFDASBgNVBAoTC0dvb2dsZSBJbmMuMRYwFAYDVQQHEw1Nb3Vu
             dGFpbiBWaWV3MRQwEgYDVQQDEwtMREFQIENsaWVudDEPMA0GA1UECxMGR1N1aXRlMQswCQYDVQQG
             EwJVUzETMBEGA1UECBMKQ2FsaWZvcm5pYTCCASIwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADggEPADCCAQoCggEB
             ALOTy4aC38dyjESk6N8fRsKk8DN23ZX/GaNFL5OUmmA1KWzrvVC881OzNdtGm3vNOIxr9clteEG/
             tQwsmsJvQT5U+GkBt+tGKF/zm7zueHUYqTP7Pg5pxAnAei90qkIRFi17ulObyRHPYv1BbCt8pxNB
             4fG/gAXkFbCNxwh1eiQXXRTfruasCZ4/mHfX7MVm8JmWU9uAVIOLW+DSWOFhrDQduJdGBXJOyC2r
             Gqoeg9+tkBmNH/jjxpnEkFW8q7io9DdOUqqNgoidA1h9vpKTs3084sy2DOgUvKN9uXWx14uxIyYU
             Y1DnDy0wczcsuRt7l+EgtCEgpsLiLJQbKW+JS1UCAwEAATANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQsFAAOCAQEAf60J
             yazhbHkDKIH2gFxfm7QLhhnqsmafvl4WP7JqZt0u0KdnvbDPfokdkM87yfbKJU1MTI86M36wEC+1
             P6bzklKz7kXbzAD4GggksAzxsEE64OWHC+Y64Tkxq2NiZTw/76POkcg9StiIXjG0ZcebHub9+Ux/
             rTncip92nDuvgEM7lbPFKRIS/YMhLCk09B/U0F6XLsf1yYjyf5miUTDikPkov23b/YGfpc8kh6hq
             1kqdi6a1cYPP34eAhtRhMqcZU9qezpJF6s9EeN/3YFfKzLODFSsVToBRAdZgGHzj//SAtLyQTD4n
             KCSvK1UmaMxNaZyTHg8JnMf0ZuRpv26iSg==
             -----END CERTIFICATE-----

           key: |
             -----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----
             MIIEvQIBADANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAASCBKcwggSjAgEAAoIBAQCzk8uGgt/HcoxEpOjfH0bCpPAz
             dt2V/xmjRS+TlJpgNSls671QvPNTszXbRpt7zTiMa/XJbXhBv7UMLJrCb0E+VPhpAbfrRihf85u8
             7nh1GKkz+z4OacQJwHovdKpCERYte7pTm8kRz2L9QWwrfKcTQeHxv4AF5BWwjccIdXokF10U367m
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             AcZSFJQjdg5BTyvdEDhaYUKGdRw=
             -----END PRIVATE KEY-----
   ```

1. Save the file and [restart](../../restart_gitlab.md#installations-from-source) GitLab for the changes to take effect.

## Using encrypted credentials

You can optionally store the `bind_dn` and `password` in a separate encrypted configuration file using the
[same steps as the regular LDAP integration](index.md#use-encrypted-credentials).

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