Switch from LDAP to internal directory in Confluence.
Asked by Kenrick Bramble:

Hi,

I have inherited a Confluence server from a former admin and the server is currently configured for LDAP authentication and it is working, but I need to make changes to the user directory configuration (ldap values).

I have two questions:

1. How do I switch back from LDAP authentication to using the internal directory? I tried changing the directory order but I still could not login with an internal account.  

2. Is there a way to edit the LDAP user directory while actively logged into it?

EDIT:

Thank you for the answer Taha.

I'd like to make clear that I do not wish to move users between directories.

As for what I really need to do, your "step 1" is exactly the problem I am having. I have tried moving the internal directory to the top, then I created a user account and attempted to log in with it, but whenever someone goes to our wiki page, we immediately get redirected to a CAS login page. When I try to login with the internal user on this page, I cannot login. Is there another step I need to take?


Answers:
author: Taha Khanzada
body: Hi Kenrick,

Unfortunately in Confluence you cannot move users between directory through UI unlike JIRA.

Feature request for this, do vote up for this feature - <https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONF-25630>

[Now coming back to your questions.](https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONF-25630)

* changing directory will not going to help.
* No, you cannot edit the same directory you are login with.

**Follow Below Steps for Editing LDAP Directory.**

1) Move Internal Directory to the top, then create user and grant this user admin privilege. Now since Internal directory is at top your user will be created in Internal Directory.

2) Now Login with this Internal User you should to able to EDIT LDAP user Directory.

**For Moving users from LDAP to Internal Directory you need to do it through Database**

Considering taking backup first and try it in Test instance then if you are happy move to live.

I mostly followed the steps mentioned by one of the Atlassian expert in below answer and modified some queries as per my need. I have moved users from ldap directory to other ldap directory-

<https://answers.atlassian.com/questions/298928/migrate-users-to-new-user-directory-confluence-5.4.4>

If you don't want to touch database then other approach would be to use **Atlassian CLI Tool** by Bob Swift

<https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/CONFKB/Migrate+Local+Group+Memberships+Between+Directories>

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Taha

comments: author: Kenrick Bramble
body: Thank you for the answer Taha.I'd like to make clear that I do not wish to move users between directories.As for what I really need to do, your "step 1" is exactly the problem I am having. I have tried moving the internal directory to the top, then I created a user account and attempted to log in with it, but whenever someone goes to our wiki page, we immediately get redirected to a CAS login page. When I try to login with the internal user on this page, I cannot login. Is there another step I need to take?


author: Taha Khanzada
body: Ok, you need to bypass that redirector temporarily and get in to confluence with your internal account.You could use something like this for Login \<confluence-url\>/login.actionor Login through URL itself\<confluence-url\>/dashboard.action?os_username=\<username\>\&os_password=\<password\>may be you can even try other approaches like accessing those URL where there is no redirector set.


author: Kenrick Bramble
body: I was finally able to login as an internal user by reverting to my default web.xml and seraph-config.xml file. Using login.action did not work and I could not figure out which specific settings in the web or seraph file to comment out, so I ended up going back to default and that worked. Thanks for your time. Hopefully this helps someone else.


Tags: confluence-administration