Before adding a person to OpenLDAP, ensure the People OU has been created.

Create a new user.

~]# useradd JohnDoe

Give the user a password.

~]# passwd JohnDoe

Redirect the newly add user to a new file.

~]# cat /etc/passwd | grep JohnDoe > /tmp/user

File /tmp/user should have the following.

JohnDoe:x:1001:1001:John Doe:/home/JohnDoe:/bin/bash

Migrate the contents of the /etc/user file into the user.ldif file.

~]# /usr/share/migrationtools/migrate_passwd.pl /tmp/user /etc/openldap/slapd.d/user.ldif

The LDIF file should now contain details for the user.

~]# /etc/openldap/slapd.d/user.ldif
dn: uid=JohnDoe,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
uid: JohnDoe
cn: JohnDoe
sn: JohnDoe
mail: JohnDoe@example.com
objectClass: person
objectClass: organizationalPerson
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
objectClass: posixAccount
objectClass: top
objectClass: shadowAccount
userPassword: {crypx}asldfjalkfjaslkfavkjalkalkvjalkvjalfjadofiasoifjelemlaemlakemla
shadowLastChange: 17483
shadowMin: 0
shadowMax: 99999
shadowWarning: 7
loginShell: /bin/bash
uidNumber: 1001
gidNumber: 1001
homeDirectory: /home/JohnDoe
gecos: JohnDoe

Import the user into LDAP database.

~]# ldapadd -x -W -D "cn=Manager,dc=example,dc=com" -f /etc/openldap/slapd.d/user.ldif
Enter LDAP password: ******
adding new entry "cn=JohnDoe,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com"

The ldapsearch command can be used to ensure the user was added to LDAP database.