---
name: "slapd-null"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "openldap"
version: "2.7.2-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/slapd-null"
---

# slapd-null(5)

Null backend to slapd

## NAME

slapd-null - Null backend to slapd

## SYNOPSIS

/etc/openldap/slapd.conf

## DESCRIPTION

The Null backend to [**slapd**(8)](/slapd/8.md) 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)](/slapadd/8.md) and [**slapcat**(8)](/slapcat/8.md) tools are equally exciting.\
 Inspired by the /dev/null device.

## 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)](/slapd.conf/5.md) manual page.

- **bind \<on/off\>**

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

- **dosearch \<on/off\>**

  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

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

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

## ACCESS CONTROL

The **null** backend does not honor any of the access control semantics described in [**slapd.access**(5)](/slapd.access/5.md).

## FILES

- /etc/openldap/slapd.conf

  default slapd configuration file

## SEE ALSO

[**slapd.conf**(5)](/slapd.conf/5.md), [**slapd**(8)](/slapd/8.md), [**slapadd**(8)](/slapadd/8.md), [**slapcat**(8)](/slapcat/8.md).