LDAP/AD Authentication

Overview

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol/Active Directory (LDAP) is a method where users are authenticated by validating the username against an external LDAP/AD server. Note that user accounts with corresponding names need to be created to the QPR ProcessAnalyzer database before user can login (using the Manage Users dialog). Also the combination of the built-in and the LDAP authentication can be used. It works in a way that if the LDAP method fails, the built-in method is used.

Configuring Authentication Settings

Authentication related settings are configured in the PA_CONFIGURATION table in the QPR ProcessAnalyzer database. The settings are as follows:

Name	Description
AuthenticationMethod	Indicates which authentication method is used. Options: 1: Users are authenticated using the passwords in QPR ProcessAnalyzer database (Built-in authentication). Default value. 2: Users are authenticated using the LDAP method by validating the username against the LDAP server. 3: Users are authenticated using both methods: if LDAP authentication fails, then logging in will be done using the built-in authentication method.
LDAPConnectionString	The IP address for establishing the connection to the LDAP server. Append :3268 to the end of the address if you want to use Global Catalog by default. Format: xx.x.xx.xxx
LDAPUserFilter	Additional LDAP filter expression for the query to find the user. For example (&(objectclass=person)). Note that some special characters in literals of the filter expression need to be escaped (more information: https://ldapwiki.com/wiki/DN%20Escape%20Values).
LDAPUserSearchBase	Distinguished name of the object at which to start the search. For example dc=local. Note that some special characters in the distinguished names need to be escaped (more information: https://ldapwiki.com/wiki/DN%20Escape%20Values).
LDAPUserIdAttributeName	User id attribute name. For example sAMAccountName or uid.
LDAPServerUserName	Distinguished name of the user to login to the AD/LDAP server.
LDAPServerPassword	Password of the user to login to the AD/LDAP server.

Creating Users for LDAP Authentication

The LDAP authentication can be used in QPR ProcessAnalyzer Server (Pro).

1. Edit the LDAP authentication options of the PA_CONFIGURATION table in the QPR ProcessAnalyzer database, or run the following query to the QPR ProcessAnalyzer database:

UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='AuthenticationMethod';
UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='LDAPConnectionString';
UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='LDAPUserFilter';
UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='LDAPUserSearchBase';
UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='LDAPUserIdAttributeName';
UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='LDAPServerUserName';
UPDATE PA_CONFIGURATION SET CFG_VALUE='<value>' WHERE CFG_KEY='LDAPServerPassword';

Replace <value> in the script with your own specific LDAP settings. Note that you need to allow built-in authentication at this point, so define the value of AuthenticationMethod to be 1. For more information on the values, see the table above.

2. Log in to QPR ProcessAnalyzer as a user that has All and Administrator rights.
3. Create a new user account in the Manage Users dialog. The username in QPR ProcessAnalyzer must match the LDAP username.
4. To allow users to authenticate using the LDAP method, change the value of AuthenticationMethod in PA_CONFIGURATION table to either 2 (to allow only LDAP authentication) or 3 (to allow also built-in authentication in case the LDAP authentication fails).

Note that if the user (other than an Administrator) has successfully been authenticated using the LDAP method, this user is not able to change his or her own password in QPR ProcessAnalyzer.