LLDAP vs Samba Active Directory DC
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted identity & sso options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
LLDAP
Lightweight LDAP server with a simple web interface
VS
Samba Active Directory DC
Open-source Active Directory compatible domain controller
| Feature | LLDAP | Samba Active Directory DC |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Identity & SSO | Identity & SSO |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,512 | ★ 1,000 |
| First released | 2021 | 1992 |
| Replaces | Active Directory, OpenLDAP | Active Directory, Windows Server |
What are LLDAP and Samba Active Directory DC?
LLDAP
LLDAP is a lightweight authentication server providing a simplified, opinionated LDAP interface. It is designed to be easy to set up and manage, with a clean web UI for users and groups.
- Minimal LDAP for self-hosters
- Friendly web UI for user management
- Tiny memory and CPU footprint
- Works with many self-hosted apps
Samba Active Directory DC
Samba can act as an Active Directory domain controller, providing centralized authentication, group policy and directory services for Windows and Linux clients. It is a free alternative to Windows Server domains.
- Active Directory compatible domain controller
- Kerberos and LDAP authentication
- Group policy support
- File and print services included
LLDAP vs Samba Active Directory DC: key differences
LLDAP is written in Rust, while Samba Active Directory DC is built with C. LLDAP is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Samba Active Directory DC. Samba Active Directory DC is the more established project (first released 1992), while LLDAP arrived in 2021. LLDAP has the considerably larger community, at 6,512 GitHub stars versus 1,000.
Why pick each one
Choose LLDAP if…
- Very easy to deploy
- Lightweight Rust binary
Watch out for
- Not a full LDAP implementation
Choose Samba Active Directory DC if…
- Drop-in AD replacement
- Mature and widely deployed
Watch out for
- Complex to configure correctly
Frequently asked questions
Is LLDAP or Samba Active Directory DC better?
LLDAP is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Samba Active Directory DC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are LLDAP and Samba Active Directory DC free and open-source?
Yes. LLDAP is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Samba Active Directory DC under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LLDAP and Samba Active Directory DC with Docker?
LLDAP: yes. Samba Active Directory DC: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, LLDAP or Samba Active Directory DC?
LLDAP has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Samba Active Directory DC. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.