IBM Support

Error when attaching to LDAP in Cognos Analytics: CAM-AAA-0026 Can't contact LDAP server

Troubleshooting


Problem

When trying to attach to a LDAP directory Server using the test functionality in Cognos Configuration, an error message is displayed and the connection fails. This occurs for LDAP and LDAPS (LDAP via SSL).

Symptom

CAM-AAA-0146 The namespace 'xxx' uid is not available. CAM-AAA-0064 The function 'CAM_AAA_Configure' failed. CAM-AAA-0056 Unable to authenticate. CAM-AAA-0064 The function 'LDAPHandlePool::Get()' failed. CAM-AAA-0026 The function call to 'ldap_simple_bind_s' failed with error code: '81' Can't contact LDAP server

Cause

The code trying to contact the LDAP server on the configured host and port received a response
but it wasn't one which was expected.

Possible causes are (as known so far)

  • talking SSL/LDAPS to a non-SSL/LDAP socket or vise versa
  • errors thrown by firewalls, routers or bridges
    i.e. while trying to reach the host:port some error occurred
  • permission issues
    i.e. some firewall rejected the request with some http error page
  • SSL handshake failed
    i.e. the certificate from the server and the ones configured for the namespace
    don't match up.

Resolving The Problem

  • Check that the port you are using is set up for the correct protocol, i.e. if you want
    to use SSL make sure the port is actually a SSL port. Same for non-SSL of course.
  • ensure there is no firewall blocking/denying access
  • ensure Namespace is correctly configured for LDAPS
Steps:
  • to check the port is running LDAP(S) use a third party LDAP tool or even a browser.
    Another possibility is to use OpenSSL.
  • to check for firewall blocking use a browser, ping to verify the host is reachable and telnet to the port
    (telnet <host> <port>) to check if the request goes through.

Related Information

[{"Product":{"code":"SSTSF6","label":"IBM Cognos Analytics"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU059","label":"IBM Software w\/o TPS"},"Component":"Administration and Configuration v11x","Platform":[{"code":"PF002","label":"AIX"},{"code":"PF016","label":"Linux"},{"code":"PF027","label":"Solaris"},{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"11.0","Edition":"All Editions","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB10","label":"Data and AI"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
15 June 2018

UID

swg22002783