Choose the type of group to use

Choose the type of group to use

Options for using groups in HCL WebSphere Portal.

File Repository

Type of group Static only
Advantage Configured with your initial installation
Disadvantage Not supported in production systems

LDAP

Type of group Static, Nested (optional), Dynamic (optional)
Advantage LDAP is an established industry protocol, which can integrate with multiple applications. In most use cases, HCL WebSphere Portal connects to and uses existing groups in an LDAP server.
Disadvantage LDAPs are only required to support static groups. Individual LDAP vendors might optionally choose to support both nested and dynamic groups or to support either nested group or dynamic group. Check with the LDAP administrator to determine which type of groups the LDAP supports. If we have more requirements for using groups, consider to use an LDAP location and another location for the groups that are listed next.

Virtual Member Manager Federated database

Type of group Static only
Advantage Useful in situations where LDAP is read-only and needs more groups specific to Portal. Allows for cross-repository groups, that is, users from LDAP#1 and users from LDAP#2 may exist in the same database group.
Disadvantage Groups are not accessible outside of the HCL WebSphere Portal server.

Rule Based User Groups

Type of group Dynamic only
Advantage Provides dynamic group functions to HCL WebSphere Portal in cases where an LDAP server does not support dynamic groups.
Disadvantage Only supported by HCL WebSphere Portal. Other WebSphere Application Server based products cannot use these groups. Groups are accessible outside of the HCL WebSphere Portal server.

Parent topic: Users and groups

User registry considerations
Rule-based user groups

Configure dynamic member attributes in a federated repository configuration

References:

Type of group	Static only
Advantage	Configured with your initial installation
Disadvantage	Not supported in production systems

Type of group	Static, Nested (optional), Dynamic (optional)
Advantage	LDAP is an established industry protocol, which can integrate with multiple applications. In most use cases, HCL WebSphere Portal connects to and uses existing groups in an LDAP server.
Disadvantage	LDAPs are only required to support static groups. Individual LDAP vendors might optionally choose to support both nested and dynamic groups or to support either nested group or dynamic group. Check with the LDAP administrator to determine which type of groups the LDAP supports. If we have more requirements for using groups, consider to use an LDAP location and another location for the groups that are listed next.

Type of group	Dynamic only
Advantage	Provides dynamic group functions to HCL WebSphere Portal in cases where an LDAP server does not support dynamic groups.
Disadvantage	Only supported by HCL WebSphere Portal. Other WebSphere Application Server based products cannot use these groups. Groups are accessible outside of the HCL WebSphere Portal server.