mysql auth_ldap is an authentication plugin for the MySQL server. It allows you to create SQL users that are going to be authenticated using a LDAP server. This allows to minimize administrative duties, since your users will be able to reuse their existing account to access the database. The plugin requires MySQL 5.5.7 and up. It is compiled as an add on and does not require you to alter MySQL source code, or recompile the entire server. The plugin add support for LDAP using the openLDAP library.