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GLAuth Hosting Live In 5 Minutes

GLAuth hosting on xCloud gives your apps a self-hosted LDAP server on your own server, with users and groups kept in one configuration file. Deploy GLAuth from the OneClick catalog and xCloud starts the pinned v2.5.4 image with a generated service account that can search the directory, publishes a read-only status page over HTTPS behind a generated Basic Auth login and keeps the configuration on a persistent volume. LDAP itself is plain text on a port you open.

Deploy your GLAuth
  • No terminal
  • No technical skills needed
  • No lock-in, cancel anytime

What is GLAuth?

GLAuth, in its README's words, is a secure, easy-to-use LDAP server with configurable backends, written in Go. It positions itself as a lightweight alternative to OpenLDAP and Active Directory for development or a homelab, and can store its directory in a file, in S3, in a SQL database or by proxying existing LDAP servers. It can also centralise SSH keys and Linux accounts and supports two factor authentication. Self-hosted GLAuth is a directory you run yourself. It is licensed under MIT.

In the xCloud template, GLAuth runs GLAuth v2.5.4, pinned by digest, with the directory in one config file on the glauth_config volume and no database or administration UI. Users, groups and password digests are added by editing that file. LDAP is plain text with no TLS configured, so open its port only for trusted hosts, and the README itself warns to set up TLS before production use.

From Sign-Up to a Live Directory In Just 3 Easy Steps

A GLAuth setup normally means writing a configuration file, generating a password digest, protecting the status page, a volume and a domain before the first bind. This is the same result without assembling any of it.

  1. Step 01

    Sign Up

    Create your xCloud account and pick GLAuth from the OneClick catalog. Choose your domain and target server, then set the LDAP Base DN (for example dc=example,dc=com).

  2. Step 02

    We Deploy It For You

    One click. We bring up the official GLAuth image pinned by immutable digest, a one-shot configuration helper that writes the configuration file once, and an nginx gateway that puts the status page behind a Basic Auth login. The glauth_config volume holds the configuration file, the bind password and the status page login are generated, and the status page is published over HTTPS on your domain.

  3. Step 03

    Connect Your LDAP Clients

    Save the bind password and status page login from the protected installation credentials, then point your LDAP clients at the shown host and port with the bind DN cn=serviceuser,ou=svcaccts and your base DN. Add users and groups by editing the configuration file.

Everything GLAuth Does, On Your Own Server

GLAuth runs in full here: a lightweight LDAP directory driven by one configuration file, on a server you control.

  • Configuration-File Directory

    Users, groups and password digests live in one configuration file on the glauth_config volume, so there is no database to run or back up separately.

  • Generated Service Account

    A serviceuser account with a random bind password is created at install and can search the whole directory, so LDAP clients can connect straight away.

  • Failed-Bind Throttling

    Throttling is on by default and blocks a source address for 60 seconds after 3 failed binds. The upstream demo users are not created.

  • Status Page And Metrics

    GLAuth's read-only status page and Prometheus metrics are served over HTTPS behind a generated Basic Auth login.

  • Persistent Configuration

    The configuration file lives on the glauth_config volume and survives an xCloud Restart.

  • Edit Users And Groups Your Way

    Add [[users]] and [[groups]] blocks to the configuration file; passwords are stored as SHA-256 digests, and bcrypt is also supported.

Everything You Need To Run Your LDAP Directory 24/7

Managed hosting for GLAuth, so the parts that keep it online are not your problem.

  • GLAuth v2.5.4 deployed instantly
  • Official image pinned by digest
  • Bind and status page passwords generated
  • Status page behind a Basic Auth gateway
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Server backups and snapshots
  • Server security updates included
  • 30+ server locations
  • Unused balance refunded

What You Can Do With GLAuth

  • Give home lab apps one login directory

    You point apps such as Jenkins, Nginx or Graylog at one small LDAP server instead of keeping separate user lists in each.

  • Test LDAP integrations in CI

    A pipeline binds to a throwaway directory with known users and groups to test an application's LDAP sign-in.

  • Manage Linux accounts and SSH keys centrally

    You keep Linux accounts and SSH keys for a few servers in one configuration file, as the README describes.

  • Try LDAP without heavy software

    A developer who wants to learn or prototype against LDAP runs a tiny server whose whole directory is one readable file.

GLAuth Screenshots

GLAuth status page running on xCloud

GLAuth vs Alternatives

OpenLDAP
OpenLDAP is named in GLAuth's README, which positions GLAuth as a lightweight alternative to it for development or a homelab. GLAuth keeps its directory in a file, and this page makes no feature-parity claim.
Active Directory
Active Directory is Microsoft's directory service, also named in the README. GLAuth is a lightweight LDAP server for development or a homelab, and this page makes no claim that it replaces a Windows domain.
LLDAP
LLDAP is a separate lightweight LDAP server with its own OneClick page and a web interface for managing users. GLAuth has no administration UI, because its directory is a file.
Kanidm
Kanidm is a separate identity management server with its own OneClick page. GLAuth is a plain LDAP directory driven by one configuration file, with no administration UI.

Simple Pricing. Everything Included.

Dedicated Cloud VPS sizes, pre-configured for GLAuth hosting. Pick the one that fits, and resize any time.

Cloud VPS 6 GB

Most popular

A small LDAP directory for a home lab or CI.

$24.99per month

  • 6 GB RAM
  • 4 vCPU cores
  • 100 GB NVMe SSD
  • 30 TB
  • Unlimited
Get started

Cloud VPS 16 GB

More headroom if GLAuth sits alongside other services on the same server.

$59.99per month

  • 16 GB RAM
  • 6 vCPU cores
  • 200 GB NVMe SSD
  • 30 TB
  • Unlimited
Get started

Every size is a dedicated Cloud VPS we provision, patch, monitor and restore. Billed monthly with no lock-in — delete the server and the unused balance comes back to your account. GLAuth itself is licensed by its maintainers under MIT.

Docker hosting

Already Have a Server? Bring Your Own

Connect any VPS — DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS, Hetzner or bare metal — and deploy GLAuth on it through the same panel, for a per-server management fee instead of a Cloud VPS rental.

Free

Start your journey without cost.

$0forever

  • 1 server
  • 10 sites
Start free

Starter

Most popular

Your rate with 2–5 servers connected.

$5per server / month

  • 2–5 servers
  • Unlimited sites
  • All features included
  • Bring any VPS provider
Get started

Professional

The same platform, discounted at 6–10 servers.

$4per server / month

  • 6–10 servers
  • Unlimited sites
  • All features included
  • Bring any VPS provider
Get started

Agency

The same platform, discounted at 11+ servers.

$3per server / month

  • 11+ servers
  • Unlimited sites
  • All features included
  • Bring any VPS provider
Get started

Priced per connected server, so your rate adjusts automatically as you add or remove servers. You pay your own provider for the server itself.

Self-managed hosting

Ready To Run Your Own LDAP Server?

GLAuth on xCloud runs on a dedicated Cloud VPS that we provision, patch, monitor and restore. Deploy faster. Own the server. Stay in control.

Hear what people are saying about us

See why agencies, developers, startups, and growing businesses choose xCloud to power their projects.

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So far my experience has been smooth like silk. I didn't imagine that configuring and managing a VPS would be so easy. As of today, I have deployed 8 sites. The support is good, and they treat users with respect, even if they ask stupid questions (myself included). For the future, I hope for greater flexibility in scheduled backups and more comprehensive and consistent documentation. I'm sure that within a few months, xCloud will become the leader in its segment. This community is amazing, and the Staff here is super helpful.
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Came from cloudways then to runcloud then to xcloud. Looks like I'm staying here.
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I like xCloud better than RunCloud, but one thing I'll point out is that some years ago RunCloud was hungry for business, the support was outstanding, and the community was active and helped each other. Maybe it was sold, there was a change in management, or they stopped being hungry, but the quality of the RunCloud offering declined and it hasn't been moving forward quickly. My point is that currently the xCloud team has the edge and it is theirs to keep or lose
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Came from runcloud. Tried xcloud and never came back.
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Blaine Moore

Frequently Asked Questions

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Is GLAuth free?

Yes. GLAuth is open source under the MIT licence, linked from this page at the pinned GLAuth-v2.5.4 tag. xCloud bills for the Cloud VPS under it, not for GLAuth, and there is no per-user fee. The directory file with its password digests belongs entirely to you.

Can you self-host GLAuth with Docker?

Yes, and this GLAuth Docker hosting template does it for you: the official ghcr.io/glauth/glauth image, pinned by digest, runs beside a one-shot config helper and an nginx gateway on your own server. It is not a GLAuth cloud account, so your directory stays with you.

How much RAM does GLAuth need?

The manifest minimum for GLAuth is 256 MB of RAM, one core and two gigabytes of disk, and QA measured about 11 MiB idle for GLAuth itself. There is no database. This page sells the 6 GB tier, which is far above what a small directory uses.

How do LDAP clients sign in to GLAuth?

Clients bind with the generated service account, cn=serviceuser,ou=svcaccts under your base DN, using the generated bind password from the credentials. The status page uses a separate generated Basic Auth login. Anonymous search and wrong passwords are refused, and failed-bind throttling is on.

Is the GLAuth LDAP connection encrypted?

No. The template configures plain-text LDAP, with no LDAPS or StartTLS, so bind passwords cross the network unencrypted. xCloud opens no firewall port, so open the LDAP port only for trusted hosts or a private network, and the upstream README itself says to set up TLS for production.

How do I add users and groups to GLAuth?

Edit the configuration file in the helper container with vi, add [[users]] and [[groups]] blocks, and store passwords as a SHA-256 digest. Changes are normally picked up automatically because the file is watched. Restart the GLAuth container if they are not, or when you change the LDAP section.

Can I change the GLAuth Base DN after install?

Not through the environment. BASE_DN and the bind password are written into the configuration file once, on first start, and GLAuth reads no environment variables afterwards. Changing the Base DN later means editing the file and updating every client, so choose it carefully before connecting any application.

What does the GLAuth status page show?

A read-only status page, plus /metrics and /debug/vars, behind a Basic Auth gateway with its own generated password. It is not an administration UI, and users are not managed there. LDAP clients are not affected by the gateway and use the bind account instead.

How do I back up GLAuth?

Back up the glauth_config volume, which holds the whole directory in config.cfg. Keep the backup private, because the file contains password digests. Copy it off the server, and test a restore by binding with the service account against a disposable install.

Backup and restore Docker apps

How do I upgrade GLAuth?

Pinned v2.5.4 remains in place on a live install, with any newer template version adopted only by you. Back up the config volume first and read the upstream release notes, since configuration keys can change. Then bind with the service account to confirm the directory still answers.

Is GLAuth an alternative to OpenLDAP?

Its README calls it a lightweight alternative to OpenLDAP and Active Directory for development or a homelab. It keeps the directory in a configuration file, with no administration UI. This page makes no production-readiness claim, so test your clients first.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. There is no lock-in — cancel any time. Hosting is billed monthly and charged for what you actually use, so when you delete the server the unused balance is refunded to your account, less up to 10% in payment-processing fees.

Related apps

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Related resources

The backup and HTTPS guides that matter most once GLAuth is live.

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