Your config is wrong. http://docs.jboss.com/jbportal/v2.6/referenceGuide/html/authentication.ht... "This module is designed to provide synchronization support for any other LoginModule placed in the authentication stack." So in your particular case you are synchronizing from LDAP to .... LDAP. Its because is configured to store and retreive users from LDAP. You should use config described here instead: http://docs.jboss.com/jbportal/v2.6/referenceGuide/html/ldap.html#ldap.sy... Please note that in such case portal LDAP support is not configured so synchronization occurs from LDAP to DB. anonymous wrote : Whats the use of SynchronizingLoginModule then? SynchronizingLoginModule is designed to provide easy integration with any authentication method that is pluggable using JAAS LoginModule. Its not designed to replace LDAP failower mechanism or as a user migration strategy. View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4089670#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...