SLAPD-NULL(5) File Formats Manual SLAPD-NULL(5)

# [NAME](#NAME)

slapd-null - Null backend to slapd

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

/etc/openldap/slapd.conf

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

The Null backend to [**slapd**(8)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapd.8) is surely the most useful part of **slapd**:  
\- Searches return success but no entries.  
\- Compares return compareFalse.  
\- Updates return success (unless readonly is on) but do nothing.  
\- Binds other than as the rootdn fail unless the database option "bind on" is given.  
\- The [**slapadd**(8)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapadd.8) and [**slapcat**(8)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapcat.8) tools are equally exciting.  
Inspired by the /dev/null device.

# [CONFIGURATION](#CONFIGURATION)

This **slapd.conf** option applies to the NULL backend database. That is, it must follow a "database null" line and come before any subsequent "database" lines. Other database options are described in the [**slapd.conf**(5)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapd.conf.5) manual page.

[**bind <on/off>**](#bind)

Allow binds as any DN in this backend's suffix, with any password. The default is "off".

[**dosearch <on/off>**](#dosearch)

If enabled, a single entry will be returned on all search requests. The entry's DN will be the same as the database suffix. The default is "off".

# [EXAMPLE](#EXAMPLE)

Here is a possible slapd.conf extract using the Null backend:

```
database null
suffix   "cn=Nothing"
bind     on
```

# [ACCESS CONTROL](#ACCESS_CONTROL)

The **null** backend does not honor any of the access control semantics described in [**slapd.access**(5)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapd.access.5).

# [FILES](#FILES)

/etc/openldap/slapd.conf

default slapd configuration file

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**slapd.conf**(5)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapd.conf.5), [**slapd**(8)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapd.8), [**slapadd**(8)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapadd.8), [**slapcat**(8)](/man/os/openldap-2.6/slapcat.8).

2026/08/06 OpenLDAP 2.6.14

---

Document: slapd-null(5) from openldap-2.6 2.6.14-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://git.openldap.org/openldap/openldap.git