LDAP: error code 34

This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and troubleshooting LDAP: error code 34, a common issue IT administrators face when managing Active Directory (AD).

What does error code 34 mean?

LDAP: error code 34, also known as Invalid DN syntax or LDAP error 0x22 (34 (Invalid DN Syntax), occurs when the LDAP server receives a distinguished name (DN) that doesn't conform to proper LDAP DN syntax rules. This error is commonly encountered during LDAP bind operations, search queries, and directory management tasks.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of this issue is a failed LDAP operation, like bind, search, or modify, accompanied by an error message similar to the following:

javax.naming.InvalidNameException: [LDAP: error code 34 - Invalid DN Syntax]

or

ldap_bind: Invalid DN Syntax

This error explicitly tells you that the LDAP server rejected the request because the structure of the provided DN is incorrect.

Common causes of LDAP: error code 34

The Invalid DN Syntax error is almost always due to a client-side configuration problem. Here are the most common reasons why a DN might be considered invalid:

• Missing or incorrect attributes: A DN is a sequence of relative DNs, which are attribute-value pairs. A common mistake is providing just a username instead of the full DN.
• Incorrect attribute abbreviations: Using the wrong abbreviation for an attribute will cause a syntax error.
• Typos and special characters: A simple typo, an extra space, or an unescaped special character can invalidate the entire DN.
• Incorrect separators: DN components should be separated by commas. Using other characters will result in an error.
• Incomplete DN: The provided DN may be missing components, such as the domain components, preventing the server from locating the object.

Resolution

Resolving this error involves identifying and correcting the malformed DN in your application's configuration.

1. Verify the full DN: The most crucial step is to ensure you are using the complete and correct DN for the user or object. Do not use a simple username or an email address for a bind operation unless your directory is specifically configured for it.
   • Correct: cn=John Smith,ou=Users,dc=example,dc=com
   • Incorrect: John Smith or john.smith@example.com
2. Use an LDAP browser to find the correct DN: If you are unsure of the correct DN, use the built-in ldapsearch command-line utility to connect to your directory and find the exact DN of the user or object in question. This eliminates guesswork and ensures accuracy.
3. Check for formatting errors: Carefully inspect the DN string in your application's configuration files for any of the common mistakes listed above:
   • Ensure all attribute names are correct.
   • Verify that all components are separated by commas.
   • Look for any leading or trailing spaces.
4. Escape special characters: If any part of the DN contains special characters, they must be properly escaped with a backslash.

By systematically checking these common points of failure, you can quickly diagnose and fix LDAP: error code 34 and restore proper communication between your application and LDAP server.

Simplify AD management with ADManager Plus

Manually constructing and verifying DNs, especially when performing bulk operations or running complex scripts, is a tedious process and prone to typos and formatting mistakes, frequently leading to the invalid DN syntax error.

ADManager Plus, an AD management solution, eliminates these risks and offers a user-friendly interface that eliminates the need to manually handle DNs for routine tasks. It helps you prevent this error by:

• Simplifying object management: It offers an intuitive graphical user interface for all AD actions. You can search for, modify, and manage users, groups, and other objects through an intuitive interface without ever needing to write or type a DN.
• Offering predefined AD reports: With powerful search capabilities and a library of predefined reports, you can precisely locate the correct objects for any operation. This ensures that your tasks always target the intended user, group, or computer, eliminating guesswork.
• Automating routine AD tasks: Automate critical processes like user provisioning, deprovisioning, and modifications and ensure that operations are performed consistently and accurately every time, removing the potential for human error inherent in manual scripting.

By leveraging ADManager Plus, you can manage your AD environment more efficiently and dramatically reduce the risk of manual errors associated with native tools and scripting.

After you have verified your syntax and resolved the Invalid DN Syntax error, you might still face an issue if the object you're referencing doesn't exist. If the syntax is correct but the object is missing, the system will typically return an LDAP: error code 32.

For authentication failures, see our article on LDAP: error code 49.