Google Secure LDAP

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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

Go to https://admin.google.com/Dashboard and sign in as a Google Workspace domain administrator.
Go to Apps > LDAP > Add Client.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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:

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
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        KCSvK1UmaMxNaZyTHg8JnMf0ZuRpv26iSg==
        -----END CERTIFICATE-----

      key: |
        -----BEGIN PRIVATE KEY-----
        MIIEvQIBADANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQEFAASCBKcwggSjAgEAAoIBAQCzk8uGgt/HcoxEpOjfH0bCpPAz
        dt2V/xmjRS+TlJpgNSls671QvPNTszXbRpt7zTiMa/XJbXhBv7UMLJrCb0E+VPhpAbfrRihf85u8
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        AcZSFJQjdg5BTyvdEDhaYUKGdRw=
        -----END PRIVATE KEY-----
EOS

Save the file and reconfigure GitLab for the changes to take effect.

For self-compiled installations:

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
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          ALOTy4aC38dyjESk6N8fRsKk8DN23ZX/GaNFL5OUmmA1KWzrvVC881OzNdtGm3vNOIxr9clteEG/
          tQwsmsJvQT5U+GkBt+tGKF/zm7zueHUYqTP7Pg5pxAnAei90qkIRFi17ulObyRHPYv1BbCt8pxNB
          4fG/gAXkFbCNxwh1eiQXXRTfruasCZ4/mHfX7MVm8JmWU9uAVIOLW+DSWOFhrDQduJdGBXJOyC2r
          Gqoeg9+tkBmNH/jjxpnEkFW8q7io9DdOUqqNgoidA1h9vpKTs3084sy2DOgUvKN9uXWx14uxIyYU
          Y1DnDy0wczcsuRt7l+EgtCEgpsLiLJQbKW+JS1UCAwEAATANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQsFAAOCAQEAf60J
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          KCSvK1UmaMxNaZyTHg8JnMf0ZuRpv26iSg==
          -----END CERTIFICATE-----

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

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.