Overview

This use case demonstrates how Joomla was integrated with Active Directory using miniOrange plugins to simplify user management. Users were automatically imported from LDAP into Joomla, and any password changes made in Joomla were synced back to Active Directory. With the LDAP Plugin, Import Users Add-On, and Password Sync Add-On, the setup ensured real-time synchronization between both systems. It supports creating new users or updating existing ones, helping maintain accurate user records and consistent login experiences across platforms.

Prerequisites

This use case has been seamlessly implemented using the plugins listed below. To achieve this, you will need to install these plugins on your Joomla instance.

miniOrange Joomla LDAP Plugin

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miniOrange Joomla LDAP Import Users Add-On

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miniOrange Joomla Password Sync Plugin

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Challenge

The challenge here was to import users from the Active Directory to the Joomla database and sync user passwords from Joomla to the Active Directory.

Implementation

The connection between Joomla and Active Directory was established using the miniOrange Joomla LDAP plugin, which allowed users to log into the Joomla site through Active Directory.

The development team has added an add-on to import users from LDAP Active Directory into Joomla. The add-on verifies if a user is already on the Joomla site. If the user is not found, a new user is created. If the user already exists, their details are updated. This process is carried out for all users in the Active Directory.

We also created a password sync add-on where if a user wants to change or update their password on Joomla, then this password sync add-on, syncs the same password to LDAP Active directory.

The Joomla LDAP plugin connects the Active Directory and Joomla. All the users present in the LDAP server or Active Directory are migrated to the Joomla site using the "Import users from AD" add-on. With the "Password Sync" add-on, when a password is changed or updated, it is automatically synced to the LDAP Server or the Active Directory, and the user may log in with the revised password.

Conclusion

In conclusion, by leveraging the miniOrange Joomla LDAP plugin along with its Import Users and Password Sync add-ons, the client successfully bridged the gap between their Joomla site and Active Directory. This solution not only automated the initial user migration but also implemented the critical feature of syncing password changes from Joomla back to the central LDAP server. The result is a unified, low-maintenance ecosystem where user data remains consistent and secure, significantly reducing administrative overhead and ensuring a seamless login experience for all users.

Additional Resources

1. LDAP Authentication for Joomla
2. See Our Other Use-Cases