Amazon Cognito
Customer identity and access management service for adding user sign-up, sign-in, and authentication to apps
Kanidm
Simple, secure identity management platform with everything built-in
Complete identity provider with passkeys, OAuth2/OIDC, RADIUS, and Linux/Unix integration. No external components needed—strict defaults and self-healing architecture from home labs to enterprise.
Overview
What is Kanidm?
Kanidm is a complete identity management platform designed to handle authentication and identity storage for applications and services of any scale. Built in Rust, it eliminates the need for external components like Keycloak or separate LDAP servers by bundling passkey authentication, OAuth2/OIDC SSO, RADIUS, SSH key distribution, and Linux/Unix integration into a single, cohesive system.
Who Should Use It?
Kanidm serves home labs, families, small businesses, and large enterprises through strict defaults, minimal configuration, and self-healing components. Its high-performance internal database and two-node replication deliver faster operations than FreeIPA while avoiding the complexity of multi-component stacks. The platform supports TPM-protected offline authentication, attested passkeys for high-security environments, and a read-only LDAP gateway for legacy systems.
Deployment and Management
Administrators manage Kanidm primarily through comprehensive CLI tooling, while end users access a self-service WebUI and application portal. The architecture prioritizes simplicity: no external SQL databases, no sprawling configuration files, and no dependency on separate OIDC or directory services. Whether you're replacing FreeIPA, consolidating Keycloak and LDAP, or building a new identity infrastructure, Kanidm provides a streamlined, secure foundation.
Highlights
Passkey and attested WebAuthn authentication with OAuth2/OIDC SSO built-in
Linux/Unix integration with TPM-protected offline auth and SSH key distribution
High-performance internal database with two-node replication—no external SQL required
RADIUS, read-only LDAP gateway, and application portal in a single platform
Pros
- All-in-one platform eliminates need for Keycloak, separate LDAP, or multiple components
- Outperforms FreeIPA in benchmarks (3× faster searches, 5× faster modifications)
- Strict defaults and self-healing design reduce configuration overhead
- Scales from home labs to enterprise with consistent architecture
Considerations
- Primary administration via CLI; WebUI focused on user self-service, not admin tasks
- Smaller ecosystem and community compared to established solutions like FreeIPA or Keycloak
- Fewer customization options than general-purpose LDAP servers (389-ds, OpenLDAP)
- Two-node HA only; no multi-master clustering for larger deployments
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Kanidm, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
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Fit guide
Great for
- Teams consolidating multiple identity components (LDAP, OIDC, RADIUS) into one platform
- Organizations prioritizing passkey and WebAuthn attestation for high-security environments
- Linux/Unix shops needing integrated SSH key distribution and offline authentication
- Admins seeking simpler, faster alternative to FreeIPA or Keycloak+LDAP stacks
Not ideal when
- Deployments requiring extensive LDAP schema customization or non-standard directory features
- Teams needing graphical admin interfaces for all management tasks
- Environments with more than two nodes requiring multi-master replication
- Projects already invested in mature ecosystems like Keycloak with complex custom workflows
How teams use it
Replace FreeIPA for Linux/Unix Identity
Faster performance, simpler upgrades, and integrated passkey authentication without Kerberos complexity
Consolidate Keycloak and LDAP Stack
Single platform for OAuth2/OIDC SSO and identity storage, reducing operational overhead and failure points
Secure VPN and Network Access
Built-in RADIUS server with passkey authentication for VPNs, Wi-Fi, and network devices
Home Lab or Small Business SSO
Self-hosted authentication with application portal, SSH keys, and minimal configuration for non-enterprise users
Tech snapshot
Rust96%
Python1%
HTML1%
Shell1%
Makefile1%
JavaScript1%
Frequently asked questions
Does Kanidm require external databases like PostgreSQL?
No. Kanidm uses its own high-performance internal database with built-in replication, eliminating external SQL dependencies and potential bottlenecks.
Can I manage Kanidm through a web interface?
The WebUI is designed for user self-service (password resets, passkey enrollment, application access). Administrative tasks are primarily handled via comprehensive CLI tools.
How does Kanidm compare to Keycloak?
Kanidm includes OAuth2/OIDC natively without requiring Keycloak. It offers simpler setup, integrated identity storage, and broader features like RADIUS and Unix authentication in one platform.
What high availability options does Kanidm support?
Kanidm supports two-node high availability using database replication. Multi-master clustering beyond two nodes is not currently available.
Is Kanidm suitable for enterprise deployments?
Yes. Kanidm scales from home labs to large enterprises with strict defaults, self-healing architecture, and performance exceeding FreeIPA in benchmarks with thousands of users and groups.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 4,460
- Watchers
- 4,460
- Forks
- 283
LicenseMPL-2.0
Repo age6 years old
Last commit3 days ago
Primary languageRust
Last synced 2 days ago