Just added debug output to help. Fedora 6, openldap rpms installed via smart package manager. slapd.conf: http://pastebin.ca/445851 tfxschool.internal.lidf: http://pastebin.ca/445852 root.ldif: http://pastebin.ca/445854 ldapusers.ldif: http://pastebin.ca/445855 "ldapadd -d9 -x -D "cn=Manager,dc=tfxschool,dc=internal" -W -f /etc/openldap/tfxschool.internal.ldif" -> http://pastebin.ca/445899 I decided to try setting up openldap in hopes of learning more about my error. I followed this howto http://www.linuxhomenetworking.com/wiki/index.php/Quick_HOWTO_:_Ch31_:_Centr... step by step and rechecked all configs etc when I got the following error. [root@fedora ~]# ldapadd -x -D "cn=Manager,dc=tfxschool,dc=internal" -W -f /etc/openldap/tfxschool.internal.ldif Enter LDAP Password: ldap_bind: Invalid credentials (49) additional info: 80090308: LdapErr: DSID-0C090334, comment: AcceptSecurityContext error, data 525, vece It seems to be similar if not the same problem I am having with FR refusing to auth via ldap to our ADS server. I am stuck though I have no idea how to resolve this error and unfortunately the howto assumes it just works. Google suggests that it may be the result of my domain string dc=tfxschool,dc=interternal, which looks correct to me. Our test domain is tfxschool.internal . any help / suggestions/ insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.