It looks like the default database created when configuring slapd was conflicting with what I was specifying in comment #3. I guess this has changed with the recent version provided with 14.04.
If I enter the right values during dpkg-reconfigure, and leave out this whole section of db.ldif, it seems to work. So now my db.ldif just starts with "olcRootDN: cn=admin,dc=balaam,dc=com". Solved, phew! ** Changed in: openldap (Ubuntu) Status: New => Invalid -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Server Team, which is subscribed to openldap in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1325446 Title: Database corrupted during ldapadd To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/openldap/+bug/1325446/+subscriptions -- Ubuntu-server-bugs mailing list Ubuntu-server-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-server-bugs