Skip to content

Google Secure LDAP

DETAILS: Tier: Free, Premium, Ultimate Offering: Self-managed

Google Cloud 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.

Secure LDAP is only available on specific Google Workspace editions. For more information, see the Google Secure LDAP service documentation.

Configuring Google LDAP client

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

  2. Go to Apps > LDAP > Add Client.

  3. 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. Select Continue.

    Add LDAP Client Step 1

  4. 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 , turn on Read group information.

    Add LDAP Client Step 2

  5. 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, select Continue to Client Details.

  6. Expand the Service Status section and turn the LDAP client ON for everyone. After selecting Save, select the Service Status bar again to collapse and return to the rest of the settings.

  7. Expand the Authentication section and choose Generate New Credentials. Copy/note these credentials for later use. After selecting Close, select 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

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 Linux package installations:

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

    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]
        base: "DC=example,DC=com"
        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
            rAmeP5h31+zFZvCZllPbgFSDi1vg0ljhYaw0HbiXRgVyTsgtqxqqHoPfrZAZjR/448aZxJBVvKu4
            qPQ3TlKqjYKInQNYfb6Sk7N9POLMtgzoFLyjfbl1sdeLsSMmFGNQ5w8tMHM3LLkbe5fhILQhIKbC
            4iyUGylviUtVAgMBAAECggEAIPb0CQy0RJoX+q/lGbRVmnyJpYDf+115WNnl+mrwjdGkeZyqw4v0
            BPzkWYzUFP1esJRO6buBNFybQRFdFW0z5lvVv/zzRKq71aVUBPInxaMRyHuJ8D5lIL8nDtgVOwyE
            7DOGyDtURUMzMjdUwoTe7K+O6QBU4X/1pVPZYgmissYSMmt68LiP8k0p601F4+r5xOi/QEy44aVp
            aOJZBUOisKB8BmUXZqmQ4Cy05vU9Xi1rLyzkn9s7fxnZ+JO6Sd1r0Thm1mE0yuPgxkDBh/b4f3/2
            GsQNKKKCiij/6TfkjnBi8ZvWR44LnKpu760g/K7psVNrKwqJG6C/8RAcgISWQQKBgQDop7BaKGhK
            1QMJJ/vnlyYFTucfGLn6bM//pzTys5Gop0tpcfX/Hf6a6Dd+zBhmC3tBmhr80XOX/PiyAIbc0lOI
            31rafZuD/oVx5mlIySWX35EqS14LXmdVs/5vOhsInNgNiE+EPFf1L9YZgG/zA7OUBmqtTeYIPDVC
            7ViJcydItQKBgQDFmK0H0IA6W4opGQo+zQKhefooqZ+RDk9IIZMPOAtnvOM7y3rSVrfsSjzYVuMS
            w/RP/vs7rwhaZejnCZ8/7uIqwg4sdUBRzZYR3PRNFeheW+BPZvb+2keRCGzOs7xkbF1mu54qtYTa
            HZGZj1OsD83AoMwVLcdLDgO1kw32dkS8IQKBgFRdgoifAHqqVah7VFB9se7Y1tyi5cXWsXI+Wufr
            j9U9nQ4GojK52LqpnH4hWnOelDqMvF6TQTyLIk/B+yWWK26Ft/dk9wDdSdystd8L+dLh4k0Y+Whb
            +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
  2. Save the file and reconfigure GitLab for the changes to take effect.

For self-compiled installations:

  1. Edit config/gitlab.yml:

    ldap:
      enabled: true
      servers:
        main: # 'main' is the GitLab 'provider ID' of this LDAP server
          label: 'Google Secure LDAP'
          base: "DC=example,DC=com"
          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
              rAmeP5h31+zFZvCZllPbgFSDi1vg0ljhYaw0HbiXRgVyTsgtqxqqHoPfrZAZjR/448aZxJBVvKu4
              qPQ3TlKqjYKInQNYfb6Sk7N9POLMtgzoFLyjfbl1sdeLsSMmFGNQ5w8tMHM3LLkbe5fhILQhIKbC
              4iyUGylviUtVAgMBAAECggEAIPb0CQy0RJoX+q/lGbRVmnyJpYDf+115WNnl+mrwjdGkeZyqw4v0
              BPzkWYzUFP1esJRO6buBNFybQRFdFW0z5lvVv/zzRKq71aVUBPInxaMRyHuJ8D5lIL8nDtgVOwyE
              7DOGyDtURUMzMjdUwoTe7K+O6QBU4X/1pVPZYgmissYSMmt68LiP8k0p601F4+r5xOi/QEy44aVp
              aOJZBUOisKB8BmUXZqmQ4Cy05vU9Xi1rLyzkn9s7fxnZ+JO6Sd1r0Thm1mE0yuPgxkDBh/b4f3/2
              GsQNKKKCiij/6TfkjnBi8ZvWR44LnKpu760g/K7psVNrKwqJG6C/8RAcgISWQQKBgQDop7BaKGhK
              1QMJJ/vnlyYFTucfGLn6bM//pzTys5Gop0tpcfX/Hf6a6Dd+zBhmC3tBmhr80XOX/PiyAIbc0lOI
              31rafZuD/oVx5mlIySWX35EqS14LXmdVs/5vOhsInNgNiE+EPFf1L9YZgG/zA7OUBmqtTeYIPDVC
              7ViJcydItQKBgQDFmK0H0IA6W4opGQo+zQKhefooqZ+RDk9IIZMPOAtnvOM7y3rSVrfsSjzYVuMS
              w/RP/vs7rwhaZejnCZ8/7uIqwg4sdUBRzZYR3PRNFeheW+BPZvb+2keRCGzOs7xkbF1mu54qtYTa
              HZGZj1OsD83AoMwVLcdLDgO1kw32dkS8IQKBgFRdgoifAHqqVah7VFB9se7Y1tyi5cXWsXI+Wufr
              j9U9nQ4GojK52LqpnH4hWnOelDqMvF6TQTyLIk/B+yWWK26Ft/dk9wDdSdystd8L+dLh4k0Y+Whb
              +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-----
  2. Save the file and restart 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.