sub openLDAPConnection ( ) {
  my ( $host, $port, $binddn, $password ) = @_;
  my ( $ld );

  # Initialize LDAP Connection
  if (($ld = ldap_init($host,$port)) == -1 ) {
    return -1;
  }

  # Bind as $binddn, $password on the LDAP connection
  if ( ldap_simple_bind_s($ld,$binddn,$password) != LDAP_SUCCESS) {
    return -1;
  }

  return $ld;
} # end of openLDAPConnection