diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 6877e706..4dd7b6dc 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@ language: ruby
 rvm:
   - 1.9.3
   - 2.0.0
+  - 2.1.2
   - jruby-19mode
   - rbx-19mode
+  # - rbx-2
 matrix:
   allow_failures:
     - rvm: jruby-19mode
-script: bundle exec rake spec
+script: bundle exec rake
diff --git a/Manifest.txt b/Manifest.txt
index bea51c0c..9c81b63c 100644
--- a/Manifest.txt
+++ b/Manifest.txt
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ lib/net/ldap/version.rb
 lib/net/snmp.rb
 net-ldap.gemspec
 spec/integration/ssl_ber_spec.rb
-spec/spec.opts
 spec/spec_helper.rb
 spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb
 spec/unit/ber/core_ext/array_spec.rb
diff --git a/lib/net/ldap.rb b/lib/net/ldap.rb
index 8201d8f0..cbd7917c 100644
--- a/lib/net/ldap.rb
+++ b/lib/net/ldap.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class LDAP
 require 'net/ldap/password'
 require 'net/ldap/entry'
 require 'net/ldap/instrumentation'
+require 'net/ldap/connection'
 require 'net/ldap/version'
 
 # == Quick-start for the Impatient
@@ -485,9 +486,9 @@ def authenticate(username, password)
   # standard port for simple-TLS encrypted connections is 636. Be sure you
   # are using the correct port.
   #
-  # <i>[Note: a future version of Net::LDAP will support the STARTTLS LDAP
-  # control, which will enable encrypted communications on the same TCP port
-  # used for unencrypted connections.]</i>
+  # The :start_tls like the :simple_tls encryption method also encrypts all 
+  # communcations with the LDAP server. With the exception that it operates
+  # over the standard TCP port.
   def encryption(args)
     case args
     when :simple_tls, :start_tls
@@ -894,9 +895,10 @@ def add(args)
   # operations in order.
   #
   # Each of the operations appearing in the Array must itself be an Array
-  # with exactly three elements: an operator:: must be :add, :replace, or
-  # :delete an attribute name:: the attribute name (string or symbol) to
-  # modify a value:: either a string or an array of strings.
+  # with exactly three elements:
+  # an operator :: must be :add, :replace, or :delete
+  # an attribute name :: the attribute name (string or symbol) to modify
+  # a value :: either a string or an array of strings.
   #
   # The :add operator will, unsurprisingly, add the specified values to the
   # specified attribute. If the attribute does not already exist, :add will
@@ -939,13 +941,13 @@ def add(args)
   # may not get extended information that will tell you which one failed.
   # #modify has no notion of an atomic transaction. If you specify a chain
   # of modifications in one call to #modify, and one of them fails, the
-  # preceding ones will usually not be "rolled back, " resulting in a
+  # preceding ones will usually not be "rolled back", resulting in a
   # partial update. This is a limitation of the LDAP protocol, not of
   # Net::LDAP.
   #
   # The lack of transactional atomicity in LDAP means that you're usually
   # better off using the convenience methods #add_attribute,
-  # #replace_attribute, and #delete_attribute, which are are wrappers over
+  # #replace_attribute, and #delete_attribute, which are wrappers over
   # #modify. However, certain LDAP servers may provide concurrency
   # semantics, in which the several operations contained in a single #modify
   # call are not interleaved with other modification-requests received
@@ -1174,577 +1176,3 @@ def paged_searches_supported?
     @server_caps[:supportedcontrol].include?(Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::PAGED_RESULTS)
   end
 end # class LDAP
-
-# This is a private class used internally by the library. It should not
-# be called by user code.
-class Net::LDAP::Connection #:nodoc:
-  include Net::LDAP::Instrumentation
-
-  LdapVersion = 3
-  MaxSaslChallenges = 10
-
-  def initialize(server)
-    @instrumentation_service = server[:instrumentation_service]
-
-    begin
-      @conn = TCPSocket.new(server[:host], server[:port])
-    rescue SocketError
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "No such address or other socket error."
-    rescue Errno::ECONNREFUSED
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Server #{server[:host]} refused connection on port #{server[:port]}."
-    end
-
-    if server[:encryption]
-      setup_encryption server[:encryption]
-    end
-
-    yield self if block_given?
-  end
-
-  module GetbyteForSSLSocket
-    def getbyte
-      getc.ord
-    end
-  end
-
-  module FixSSLSocketSyncClose
-    def close
-      super
-      io.close
-    end
-  end
-
-  def self.wrap_with_ssl(io)
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "OpenSSL is unavailable" unless Net::LDAP::HasOpenSSL
-    ctx = OpenSSL::SSL::SSLContext.new
-    conn = OpenSSL::SSL::SSLSocket.new(io, ctx)
-    conn.connect
-
-    # Doesn't work:
-    # conn.sync_close = true
-
-    conn.extend(GetbyteForSSLSocket) unless conn.respond_to?(:getbyte)
-    conn.extend(FixSSLSocketSyncClose)
-
-    conn
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # Helper method called only from new, and only after we have a
-  # successfully-opened @conn instance variable, which is a TCP connection.
-  # Depending on the received arguments, we establish SSL, potentially
-  # replacing the value of @conn accordingly. Don't generate any errors here
-  # if no encryption is requested. DO raise Net::LDAP::LdapError objects if encryption
-  # is requested and we have trouble setting it up. That includes if OpenSSL
-  # is not set up on the machine. (Question: how does the Ruby OpenSSL
-  # wrapper react in that case?) DO NOT filter exceptions raised by the
-  # OpenSSL library. Let them pass back to the user. That should make it
-  # easier for us to debug the problem reports. Presumably (hopefully?) that
-  # will also produce recognizable errors if someone tries to use this on a
-  # machine without OpenSSL.
-  #
-  # The simple_tls method is intended as the simplest, stupidest, easiest
-  # solution for people who want nothing more than encrypted comms with the
-  # LDAP server. It doesn't do any server-cert validation and requires
-  # nothing in the way of key files and root-cert files, etc etc. OBSERVE:
-  # WE REPLACE the value of @conn, which is presumed to be a connected
-  # TCPSocket object.
-  #
-  # The start_tls method is supported by many servers over the standard LDAP
-  # port. It does not require an alternative port for encrypted
-  # communications, as with simple_tls. Thanks for Kouhei Sutou for
-  # generously contributing the :start_tls path.
-  #++
-  def setup_encryption(args)
-    case args[:method]
-    when :simple_tls
-      @conn = self.class.wrap_with_ssl(@conn)
-      # additional branches requiring server validation and peer certs, etc.
-      # go here.
-    when :start_tls
-      msgid = next_msgid.to_ber
-      request = [Net::LDAP::StartTlsOid.to_ber_contextspecific(0)].to_ber_appsequence(Net::LDAP::PDU::ExtendedRequest)
-      request_pkt = [msgid, request].to_ber_sequence
-      write request_pkt
-      be = read
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no start_tls result" if be.nil?
-      pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no start_tls result" if pdu.nil?
-      if pdu.result_code.zero?
-        @conn = self.class.wrap_with_ssl(@conn)
-      else
-        raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "start_tls failed: #{pdu.result_code}"
-      end
-    else
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "unsupported encryption method #{args[:method]}"
-    end
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # This is provided as a convenience method to make sure a connection
-  # object gets closed without waiting for a GC to happen. Clients shouldn't
-  # have to call it, but perhaps it will come in handy someday.
-  #++
-  def close
-    @conn.close
-    @conn = nil
-  end
-
-  # Internal: Reads and parses data from the configured connection.
-  #
-  # - syntax: the BER syntax to use to parse the read data with
-  #
-  # Returns basic BER objects.
-  def read(syntax = Net::LDAP::AsnSyntax)
-    instrument "read.net_ldap_connection", :syntax => syntax do |payload|
-      @conn.read_ber(syntax) do |id, content_length|
-        payload[:object_type_id] = id
-        payload[:content_length] = content_length
-      end
-    end
-  end
-  private :read
-
-  # Internal: Writes the given packet to the configured connection.
-  #
-  # - packet: the BER data packet to write on the socket.
-  #
-  # Returns the return value from writing to the connection, which in some
-  # cases is the Integer number of bytes written to the socket.
-  def write(packet)
-    instrument "write.net_ldap_connection" do |payload|
-      payload[:content_length] = @conn.write(packet)
-    end
-  end
-  private :write
-
-  def next_msgid
-    @msgid ||= 0
-    @msgid += 1
-  end
-
-  def bind(auth)
-    instrument "bind.net_ldap_connection" do |payload|
-      payload[:method] = meth = auth[:method]
-      if [:simple, :anonymous, :anon].include?(meth)
-        bind_simple auth
-      elsif meth == :sasl
-        bind_sasl(auth)
-      elsif meth == :gss_spnego
-        bind_gss_spnego(auth)
-      else
-        raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Unsupported auth method (#{meth})"
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # Implements a simple user/psw authentication. Accessed by calling #bind
-  # with a method of :simple or :anonymous.
-  #++
-  def bind_simple(auth)
-    user, psw = if auth[:method] == :simple
-                  [auth[:username] || auth[:dn], auth[:password]]
-                else
-                  ["", ""]
-                end
-
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Invalid binding information" unless (user && psw)
-
-    msgid = next_msgid.to_ber
-    request = [LdapVersion.to_ber, user.to_ber,
-      psw.to_ber_contextspecific(0)].to_ber_appsequence(0)
-    request_pkt = [msgid, request].to_ber_sequence
-    write request_pkt
-
-    (be = read and pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no bind result"
-
-    pdu
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # Required parameters: :mechanism, :initial_credential and
-  # :challenge_response
-  #
-  # Mechanism is a string value that will be passed in the SASL-packet's
-  # "mechanism" field.
-  #
-  # Initial credential is most likely a string. It's passed in the initial
-  # BindRequest that goes to the server. In some protocols, it may be empty.
-  #
-  # Challenge-response is a Ruby proc that takes a single parameter and
-  # returns an object that will typically be a string. The
-  # challenge-response block is called when the server returns a
-  # BindResponse with a result code of 14 (saslBindInProgress). The
-  # challenge-response block receives a parameter containing the data
-  # returned by the server in the saslServerCreds field of the LDAP
-  # BindResponse packet. The challenge-response block may be called multiple
-  # times during the course of a SASL authentication, and each time it must
-  # return a value that will be passed back to the server as the credential
-  # data in the next BindRequest packet.
-  #++
-  def bind_sasl(auth)
-    mech, cred, chall = auth[:mechanism], auth[:initial_credential],
-      auth[:challenge_response]
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Invalid binding information" unless (mech && cred && chall)
-
-    n = 0
-    loop {
-      msgid = next_msgid.to_ber
-      sasl = [mech.to_ber, cred.to_ber].to_ber_contextspecific(3)
-      request = [LdapVersion.to_ber, "".to_ber, sasl].to_ber_appsequence(0)
-      request_pkt = [msgid, request].to_ber_sequence
-      write request_pkt
-
-      (be = read and pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no bind result"
-      return pdu unless pdu.result_code == 14 # saslBindInProgress
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "sasl-challenge overflow" if ((n += 1) > MaxSaslChallenges)
-
-      cred = chall.call(pdu.result_server_sasl_creds)
-    }
-
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "why are we here?"
-  end
-  private :bind_sasl
-
-  #--
-  # PROVISIONAL, only for testing SASL implementations. DON'T USE THIS YET.
-  # Uses Kohei Kajimoto's Ruby/NTLM. We have to find a clean way to
-  # integrate it without introducing an external dependency.
-  #
-  # This authentication method is accessed by calling #bind with a :method
-  # parameter of :gss_spnego. It requires :username and :password
-  # attributes, just like the :simple authentication method. It performs a
-  # GSS-SPNEGO authentication with the server, which is presumed to be a
-  # Microsoft Active Directory.
-  #++
-  def bind_gss_spnego(auth)
-    require 'ntlm'
-
-    user, psw = [auth[:username] || auth[:dn], auth[:password]]
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Invalid binding information" unless (user && psw)
-
-    nego = proc { |challenge|
-      t2_msg = NTLM::Message.parse(challenge)
-      t3_msg = t2_msg.response({ :user => user, :password => psw },
-                               { :ntlmv2 => true })
-      t3_msg.serialize
-    }
-
-    bind_sasl(:method => :sasl, :mechanism => "GSS-SPNEGO",
-              :initial_credential => NTLM::Message::Type1.new.serialize,
-              :challenge_response => nego)
-  end
-  private :bind_gss_spnego
-
-
-  #--
-  # Allow the caller to specify a sort control
-  #
-  # The format of the sort control needs to be:
-  #
-  # :sort_control => ["cn"]  # just a string
-  # or
-  # :sort_control => [["cn", "matchingRule", true]] #attribute, matchingRule, direction (true / false)
-  # or
-  # :sort_control => ["givenname","sn"] #multiple strings or arrays
-  #
-  def encode_sort_controls(sort_definitions)
-    return sort_definitions unless sort_definitions
-
-    sort_control_values = sort_definitions.map do |control|
-      control = Array(control) # if there is only an attribute name as a string then infer the orderinrule and reverseorder
-      control[0] = String(control[0]).to_ber,
-      control[1] = String(control[1]).to_ber,
-      control[2] = (control[2] == true).to_ber
-      control.to_ber_sequence
-    end
-    sort_control = [
-      Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::SORT_REQUEST.to_ber,
-      false.to_ber,
-      sort_control_values.to_ber_sequence.to_s.to_ber
-    ].to_ber_sequence
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # Alternate implementation, this yields each search entry to the caller as
-  # it are received.
-  #
-  # TODO: certain search parameters are hardcoded.
-  # TODO: if we mis-parse the server results or the results are wrong, we
-  # can block forever. That's because we keep reading results until we get a
-  # type-5 packet, which might never come. We need to support the time-limit
-  # in the protocol.
-  #++
-  def search(args = {})
-    search_filter = (args && args[:filter]) ||
-      Net::LDAP::Filter.eq("objectclass", "*")
-    search_filter = Net::LDAP::Filter.construct(search_filter) if search_filter.is_a?(String)
-    search_base = (args && args[:base]) || "dc=example, dc=com"
-    search_attributes = ((args && args[:attributes]) || []).map { |attr| attr.to_s.to_ber}
-    return_referrals = args && args[:return_referrals] == true
-    sizelimit = (args && args[:size].to_i) || 0
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "invalid search-size" unless sizelimit >= 0
-    paged_searches_supported = (args && args[:paged_searches_supported])
-
-    attributes_only = (args and args[:attributes_only] == true)
-    scope = args[:scope] || Net::LDAP::SearchScope_WholeSubtree
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "invalid search scope" unless Net::LDAP::SearchScopes.include?(scope)
-
-    sort_control = encode_sort_controls(args.fetch(:sort_controls){ false })
-
-	deref = args[:deref] || Net::LDAP::DerefAliases_Never
-	raise Net::LDAP::LdapError.new( "invalid alias dereferencing value" ) unless Net::LDAP::DerefAliasesArray.include?(deref)
-
-
-    # An interesting value for the size limit would be close to A/D's
-    # built-in page limit of 1000 records, but openLDAP newer than version
-    # 2.2.0 chokes on anything bigger than 126. You get a silent error that
-    # is easily visible by running slapd in debug mode. Go figure.
-    #
-    # Changed this around 06Sep06 to support a caller-specified search-size
-    # limit. Because we ALWAYS do paged searches, we have to work around the
-    # problem that it's not legal to specify a "normal" sizelimit (in the
-    # body of the search request) that is larger than the page size we're
-    # requesting. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that this will break
-    # with LDAP servers that don't support paged searches!!!
-    #
-    # (Because we pass zero as the sizelimit on search rounds when the
-    # remaining limit is larger than our max page size of 126. In these
-    # cases, I think the caller's search limit will be ignored!)
-    #
-    # CONFIRMED: This code doesn't work on LDAPs that don't support paged
-    # searches when the size limit is larger than 126. We're going to have
-    # to do a root-DSE record search and not do a paged search if the LDAP
-    # doesn't support it. Yuck.
-    rfc2696_cookie = [126, ""]
-    result_pdu = nil
-    n_results = 0
-
-    instrument "search.net_ldap_connection",
-               :filter     => search_filter,
-               :base       => search_base,
-               :scope      => scope,
-               :limit      => sizelimit,
-               :sort       => sort_control,
-               :referrals  => return_referrals,
-               :deref      => deref,
-               :attributes => search_attributes do |payload|
-      loop do
-        # should collect this into a private helper to clarify the structure
-        query_limit = 0
-        if sizelimit > 0
-          if paged_searches_supported
-            query_limit = (((sizelimit - n_results) < 126) ? (sizelimit -
-                                                              n_results) : 0)
-          else
-            query_limit = sizelimit
-          end
-        end
-
-        request = [
-          search_base.to_ber,
-          scope.to_ber_enumerated,
-          deref.to_ber_enumerated,
-          query_limit.to_ber, # size limit
-          0.to_ber,
-          attributes_only.to_ber,
-          search_filter.to_ber,
-          search_attributes.to_ber_sequence
-        ].to_ber_appsequence(3)
-
-  			# rfc2696_cookie sometimes contains binary data from Microsoft Active Directory
-  			# this breaks when calling to_ber. (Can't force binary data to UTF-8)
-  			# we have to disable paging (even though server supports it) to get around this...
-
-        controls = []
-        controls <<
-          [
-            Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::PAGED_RESULTS.to_ber,
-            # Criticality MUST be false to interoperate with normal LDAPs.
-            false.to_ber,
-            rfc2696_cookie.map{ |v| v.to_ber}.to_ber_sequence.to_s.to_ber
-          ].to_ber_sequence if paged_searches_supported
-        controls << sort_control if sort_control
-        controls = controls.empty? ? nil : controls.to_ber_contextspecific(0)
-
-        pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request, controls].compact.to_ber_sequence
-        write pkt
-
-        result_pdu = nil
-        controls = []
-
-        while (be = read) && (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be))
-          case pdu.app_tag
-          when Net::LDAP::PDU::SearchReturnedData
-            n_results += 1
-            yield pdu.search_entry if block_given?
-          when Net::LDAP::PDU::SearchResultReferral
-            if return_referrals
-              if block_given?
-                se = Net::LDAP::Entry.new
-                se[:search_referrals] = (pdu.search_referrals || [])
-                yield se
-              end
-            end
-          when Net::LDAP::PDU::SearchResult
-            result_pdu = pdu
-            controls = pdu.result_controls
-            if return_referrals && pdu.result_code == 10
-              if block_given?
-                se = Net::LDAP::Entry.new
-                se[:search_referrals] = (pdu.search_referrals || [])
-                yield se
-              end
-            end
-            break
-          else
-            raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "invalid response-type in search: #{pdu.app_tag}"
-          end
-        end
-
-        # count number of pages of results
-        payload[:page_count] ||= 0
-        payload[:page_count]  += 1
-
-        # When we get here, we have seen a type-5 response. If there is no
-        # error AND there is an RFC-2696 cookie, then query again for the next
-        # page of results. If not, we're done. Don't screw this up or we'll
-        # break every search we do.
-        #
-        # Noticed 02Sep06, look at the read_ber call in this loop, shouldn't
-        # that have a parameter of AsnSyntax? Does this just accidentally
-        # work? According to RFC-2696, the value expected in this position is
-        # of type OCTET STRING, covered in the default syntax supported by
-        # read_ber, so I guess we're ok.
-        more_pages = false
-        if result_pdu.result_code == 0 and controls
-          controls.each do |c|
-            if c.oid == Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::PAGED_RESULTS
-              # just in case some bogus server sends us more than 1 of these.
-              more_pages = false
-              if c.value and c.value.length > 0
-                cookie = c.value.read_ber[1]
-                if cookie and cookie.length > 0
-                  rfc2696_cookie[1] = cookie
-                  more_pages = true
-                end
-              end
-            end
-          end
-        end
-
-        break unless more_pages
-      end # loop
-
-      # track total result count
-      payload[:result_count] = n_results
-
-      result_pdu || OpenStruct.new(:status => :failure, :result_code => 1, :message => "Invalid search")
-    end # instrument
-  end
-
-  MODIFY_OPERATIONS = { #:nodoc:
-    :add => 0,
-    :delete => 1,
-    :replace => 2
-  }
-
-  def self.modify_ops(operations)
-    ops = []
-    if operations
-      operations.each { |op, attrib, values|
-        # TODO, fix the following line, which gives a bogus error if the
-        # opcode is invalid.
-        op_ber = MODIFY_OPERATIONS[op.to_sym].to_ber_enumerated
-        values = [ values ].flatten.map { |v| v.to_ber if v }.to_ber_set
-        values = [ attrib.to_s.to_ber, values ].to_ber_sequence
-        ops << [ op_ber, values ].to_ber
-      }
-    end
-    ops
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # TODO: need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
-  # TODO: We're throwing an exception here on empty DN. Should return a
-  # proper error instead, probaby from farther up the chain.
-  # TODO: If the user specifies a bogus opcode, we'll throw a confusing
-  # error here ("to_ber_enumerated is not defined on nil").
-  #++
-  def modify(args)
-    modify_dn = args[:dn] or raise "Unable to modify empty DN"
-    ops = self.class.modify_ops args[:operations]
-    request = [ modify_dn.to_ber,
-      ops.to_ber_sequence ].to_ber_appsequence(6)
-    pkt = [ next_msgid.to_ber, request ].to_ber_sequence
-    write pkt
-
-    (be = read) && (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) && (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::ModifyResponse) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "response missing or invalid"
-
-    pdu
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # TODO: need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
-  # Unlike other operation-methods in this class, we return a result hash
-  # rather than a simple result number. This is experimental, and eventually
-  # we'll want to do this with all the others. The point is to have access
-  # to the error message and the matched-DN returned by the server.
-  #++
-  def add(args)
-    add_dn = args[:dn] or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Unable to add empty DN"
-    add_attrs = []
-    a = args[:attributes] and a.each { |k, v|
-      add_attrs << [ k.to_s.to_ber, Array(v).map { |m| m.to_ber}.to_ber_set ].to_ber_sequence
-    }
-
-    request = [add_dn.to_ber, add_attrs.to_ber_sequence].to_ber_appsequence(8)
-    pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request].to_ber_sequence
-    write pkt
-
-    (be = read) &&
-      (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) &&
-      (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::AddResponse) or
-      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "response missing or invalid"
-
-    pdu
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # TODO: need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
-  #++
-  def rename(args)
-    old_dn = args[:olddn] or raise "Unable to rename empty DN"
-    new_rdn = args[:newrdn] or raise "Unable to rename to empty RDN"
-    delete_attrs = args[:delete_attributes] ? true : false
-    new_superior = args[:new_superior]
-
-    request = [old_dn.to_ber, new_rdn.to_ber, delete_attrs.to_ber]
-    request << new_superior.to_ber_contextspecific(0) unless new_superior == nil
-
-    pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request.to_ber_appsequence(12)].to_ber_sequence
-    write pkt
-
-    (be = read) &&
-    (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new( be )) && (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::ModifyRDNResponse) or
-    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError.new( "response missing or invalid" )
-
-    pdu
-  end
-
-  #--
-  # TODO, need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
-  #++
-  def delete(args)
-    dn = args[:dn] or raise "Unable to delete empty DN"
-    controls = args.include?(:control_codes) ? args[:control_codes].to_ber_control : nil #use nil so we can compact later
-    request = dn.to_s.to_ber_application_string(10)
-    pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request, controls].compact.to_ber_sequence
-    write pkt
-
-    (be = read) && (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) && (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::DeleteResponse) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "response missing or invalid"
-
-    pdu
-  end
-end # class Connection
diff --git a/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb b/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00d21502
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,573 @@
+# This is a private class used internally by the library. It should not
+# be called by user code.
+class Net::LDAP::Connection #:nodoc:
+  include Net::LDAP::Instrumentation
+
+  LdapVersion = 3
+  MaxSaslChallenges = 10
+
+  def initialize(server)
+    @instrumentation_service = server[:instrumentation_service]
+
+    begin
+      @conn = TCPSocket.new(server[:host], server[:port])
+    rescue SocketError
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "No such address or other socket error."
+    rescue Errno::ECONNREFUSED
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Server #{server[:host]} refused connection on port #{server[:port]}."
+    end
+
+    if server[:encryption]
+      setup_encryption server[:encryption]
+    end
+
+    yield self if block_given?
+  end
+
+  module GetbyteForSSLSocket
+    def getbyte
+      getc.ord
+    end
+  end
+
+  module FixSSLSocketSyncClose
+    def close
+      super
+      io.close
+    end
+  end
+
+  def self.wrap_with_ssl(io)
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "OpenSSL is unavailable" unless Net::LDAP::HasOpenSSL
+    ctx = OpenSSL::SSL::SSLContext.new
+    conn = OpenSSL::SSL::SSLSocket.new(io, ctx)
+    conn.connect
+
+    # Doesn't work:
+    # conn.sync_close = true
+
+    conn.extend(GetbyteForSSLSocket) unless conn.respond_to?(:getbyte)
+    conn.extend(FixSSLSocketSyncClose)
+
+    conn
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # Helper method called only from new, and only after we have a
+  # successfully-opened @conn instance variable, which is a TCP connection.
+  # Depending on the received arguments, we establish SSL, potentially
+  # replacing the value of @conn accordingly. Don't generate any errors here
+  # if no encryption is requested. DO raise Net::LDAP::LdapError objects if encryption
+  # is requested and we have trouble setting it up. That includes if OpenSSL
+  # is not set up on the machine. (Question: how does the Ruby OpenSSL
+  # wrapper react in that case?) DO NOT filter exceptions raised by the
+  # OpenSSL library. Let them pass back to the user. That should make it
+  # easier for us to debug the problem reports. Presumably (hopefully?) that
+  # will also produce recognizable errors if someone tries to use this on a
+  # machine without OpenSSL.
+  #
+  # The simple_tls method is intended as the simplest, stupidest, easiest
+  # solution for people who want nothing more than encrypted comms with the
+  # LDAP server. It doesn't do any server-cert validation and requires
+  # nothing in the way of key files and root-cert files, etc etc. OBSERVE:
+  # WE REPLACE the value of @conn, which is presumed to be a connected
+  # TCPSocket object.
+  #
+  # The start_tls method is supported by many servers over the standard LDAP
+  # port. It does not require an alternative port for encrypted
+  # communications, as with simple_tls. Thanks for Kouhei Sutou for
+  # generously contributing the :start_tls path.
+  #++
+  def setup_encryption(args)
+    case args[:method]
+    when :simple_tls
+      @conn = self.class.wrap_with_ssl(@conn)
+      # additional branches requiring server validation and peer certs, etc.
+      # go here.
+    when :start_tls
+      msgid = next_msgid.to_ber
+      request = [Net::LDAP::StartTlsOid.to_ber_contextspecific(0)].to_ber_appsequence(Net::LDAP::PDU::ExtendedRequest)
+      request_pkt = [msgid, request].to_ber_sequence
+      write request_pkt
+      be = read
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no start_tls result" if be.nil?
+      pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no start_tls result" if pdu.nil?
+      if pdu.result_code.zero?
+        @conn = self.class.wrap_with_ssl(@conn)
+      else
+        raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "start_tls failed: #{pdu.result_code}"
+      end
+    else
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "unsupported encryption method #{args[:method]}"
+    end
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # This is provided as a convenience method to make sure a connection
+  # object gets closed without waiting for a GC to happen. Clients shouldn't
+  # have to call it, but perhaps it will come in handy someday.
+  #++
+  def close
+    @conn.close
+    @conn = nil
+  end
+
+  # Internal: Reads and parses data from the configured connection.
+  #
+  # - syntax: the BER syntax to use to parse the read data with
+  #
+  # Returns basic BER objects.
+  def read(syntax = Net::LDAP::AsnSyntax)
+    instrument "read.net_ldap_connection", :syntax => syntax do |payload|
+      @conn.read_ber(syntax) do |id, content_length|
+        payload[:object_type_id] = id
+        payload[:content_length] = content_length
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  private :read
+
+  # Internal: Writes the given packet to the configured connection.
+  #
+  # - packet: the BER data packet to write on the socket.
+  #
+  # Returns the return value from writing to the connection, which in some
+  # cases is the Integer number of bytes written to the socket.
+  def write(packet)
+    instrument "write.net_ldap_connection" do |payload|
+      payload[:content_length] = @conn.write(packet)
+    end
+  end
+  private :write
+
+  def next_msgid
+    @msgid ||= 0
+    @msgid += 1
+  end
+
+  def bind(auth)
+    instrument "bind.net_ldap_connection" do |payload|
+      payload[:method] = meth = auth[:method]
+      if [:simple, :anonymous, :anon].include?(meth)
+        bind_simple auth
+      elsif meth == :sasl
+        bind_sasl(auth)
+      elsif meth == :gss_spnego
+        bind_gss_spnego(auth)
+      else
+        raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Unsupported auth method (#{meth})"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # Implements a simple user/psw authentication. Accessed by calling #bind
+  # with a method of :simple or :anonymous.
+  #++
+  def bind_simple(auth)
+    user, psw = if auth[:method] == :simple
+                  [auth[:username] || auth[:dn], auth[:password]]
+                else
+                  ["", ""]
+                end
+
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Invalid binding information" unless (user && psw)
+
+    msgid = next_msgid.to_ber
+    request = [LdapVersion.to_ber, user.to_ber,
+      psw.to_ber_contextspecific(0)].to_ber_appsequence(0)
+    request_pkt = [msgid, request].to_ber_sequence
+    write request_pkt
+
+    (be = read and pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no bind result"
+
+    pdu
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # Required parameters: :mechanism, :initial_credential and
+  # :challenge_response
+  #
+  # Mechanism is a string value that will be passed in the SASL-packet's
+  # "mechanism" field.
+  #
+  # Initial credential is most likely a string. It's passed in the initial
+  # BindRequest that goes to the server. In some protocols, it may be empty.
+  #
+  # Challenge-response is a Ruby proc that takes a single parameter and
+  # returns an object that will typically be a string. The
+  # challenge-response block is called when the server returns a
+  # BindResponse with a result code of 14 (saslBindInProgress). The
+  # challenge-response block receives a parameter containing the data
+  # returned by the server in the saslServerCreds field of the LDAP
+  # BindResponse packet. The challenge-response block may be called multiple
+  # times during the course of a SASL authentication, and each time it must
+  # return a value that will be passed back to the server as the credential
+  # data in the next BindRequest packet.
+  #++
+  def bind_sasl(auth)
+    mech, cred, chall = auth[:mechanism], auth[:initial_credential],
+      auth[:challenge_response]
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Invalid binding information" unless (mech && cred && chall)
+
+    n = 0
+    loop {
+      msgid = next_msgid.to_ber
+      sasl = [mech.to_ber, cred.to_ber].to_ber_contextspecific(3)
+      request = [LdapVersion.to_ber, "".to_ber, sasl].to_ber_appsequence(0)
+      request_pkt = [msgid, request].to_ber_sequence
+      write request_pkt
+
+      (be = read and pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "no bind result"
+      return pdu unless pdu.result_code == 14 # saslBindInProgress
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "sasl-challenge overflow" if ((n += 1) > MaxSaslChallenges)
+
+      cred = chall.call(pdu.result_server_sasl_creds)
+    }
+
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "why are we here?"
+  end
+  private :bind_sasl
+
+  #--
+  # PROVISIONAL, only for testing SASL implementations. DON'T USE THIS YET.
+  # Uses Kohei Kajimoto's Ruby/NTLM. We have to find a clean way to
+  # integrate it without introducing an external dependency.
+  #
+  # This authentication method is accessed by calling #bind with a :method
+  # parameter of :gss_spnego. It requires :username and :password
+  # attributes, just like the :simple authentication method. It performs a
+  # GSS-SPNEGO authentication with the server, which is presumed to be a
+  # Microsoft Active Directory.
+  #++
+  def bind_gss_spnego(auth)
+    require 'ntlm'
+
+    user, psw = [auth[:username] || auth[:dn], auth[:password]]
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Invalid binding information" unless (user && psw)
+
+    nego = proc { |challenge|
+      t2_msg = NTLM::Message.parse(challenge)
+      t3_msg = t2_msg.response({ :user => user, :password => psw },
+                               { :ntlmv2 => true })
+      t3_msg.serialize
+    }
+
+    bind_sasl(:method => :sasl, :mechanism => "GSS-SPNEGO",
+              :initial_credential => NTLM::Message::Type1.new.serialize,
+              :challenge_response => nego)
+  end
+  private :bind_gss_spnego
+
+
+  #--
+  # Allow the caller to specify a sort control
+  #
+  # The format of the sort control needs to be:
+  #
+  # :sort_control => ["cn"]  # just a string
+  # or
+  # :sort_control => [["cn", "matchingRule", true]] #attribute, matchingRule, direction (true / false)
+  # or
+  # :sort_control => ["givenname","sn"] #multiple strings or arrays
+  #
+  def encode_sort_controls(sort_definitions)
+    return sort_definitions unless sort_definitions
+
+    sort_control_values = sort_definitions.map do |control|
+      control = Array(control) # if there is only an attribute name as a string then infer the orderinrule and reverseorder
+      control[0] = String(control[0]).to_ber,
+      control[1] = String(control[1]).to_ber,
+      control[2] = (control[2] == true).to_ber
+      control.to_ber_sequence
+    end
+    sort_control = [
+      Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::SORT_REQUEST.to_ber,
+      false.to_ber,
+      sort_control_values.to_ber_sequence.to_s.to_ber
+    ].to_ber_sequence
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # Alternate implementation, this yields each search entry to the caller as
+  # it are received.
+  #
+  # TODO: certain search parameters are hardcoded.
+  # TODO: if we mis-parse the server results or the results are wrong, we
+  # can block forever. That's because we keep reading results until we get a
+  # type-5 packet, which might never come. We need to support the time-limit
+  # in the protocol.
+  #++
+  def search(args = {})
+    search_filter = (args && args[:filter]) ||
+      Net::LDAP::Filter.eq("objectclass", "*")
+    search_filter = Net::LDAP::Filter.construct(search_filter) if search_filter.is_a?(String)
+    search_base = (args && args[:base]) || "dc=example, dc=com"
+    search_attributes = ((args && args[:attributes]) || []).map { |attr| attr.to_s.to_ber}
+    return_referrals = args && args[:return_referrals] == true
+    sizelimit = (args && args[:size].to_i) || 0
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "invalid search-size" unless sizelimit >= 0
+    paged_searches_supported = (args && args[:paged_searches_supported])
+
+    attributes_only = (args and args[:attributes_only] == true)
+    scope = args[:scope] || Net::LDAP::SearchScope_WholeSubtree
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "invalid search scope" unless Net::LDAP::SearchScopes.include?(scope)
+
+    sort_control = encode_sort_controls(args.fetch(:sort_controls){ false })
+
+  deref = args[:deref] || Net::LDAP::DerefAliases_Never
+  raise Net::LDAP::LdapError.new( "invalid alias dereferencing value" ) unless Net::LDAP::DerefAliasesArray.include?(deref)
+
+
+    # An interesting value for the size limit would be close to A/D's
+    # built-in page limit of 1000 records, but openLDAP newer than version
+    # 2.2.0 chokes on anything bigger than 126. You get a silent error that
+    # is easily visible by running slapd in debug mode. Go figure.
+    #
+    # Changed this around 06Sep06 to support a caller-specified search-size
+    # limit. Because we ALWAYS do paged searches, we have to work around the
+    # problem that it's not legal to specify a "normal" sizelimit (in the
+    # body of the search request) that is larger than the page size we're
+    # requesting. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that this will break
+    # with LDAP servers that don't support paged searches!!!
+    #
+    # (Because we pass zero as the sizelimit on search rounds when the
+    # remaining limit is larger than our max page size of 126. In these
+    # cases, I think the caller's search limit will be ignored!)
+    #
+    # CONFIRMED: This code doesn't work on LDAPs that don't support paged
+    # searches when the size limit is larger than 126. We're going to have
+    # to do a root-DSE record search and not do a paged search if the LDAP
+    # doesn't support it. Yuck.
+    rfc2696_cookie = [126, ""]
+    result_pdu = nil
+    n_results = 0
+
+    instrument "search.net_ldap_connection",
+               :filter     => search_filter,
+               :base       => search_base,
+               :scope      => scope,
+               :limit      => sizelimit,
+               :sort       => sort_control,
+               :referrals  => return_referrals,
+               :deref      => deref,
+               :attributes => search_attributes do |payload|
+      loop do
+        # should collect this into a private helper to clarify the structure
+        query_limit = 0
+        if sizelimit > 0
+          if paged_searches_supported
+            query_limit = (((sizelimit - n_results) < 126) ? (sizelimit -
+                                                              n_results) : 0)
+          else
+            query_limit = sizelimit
+          end
+        end
+
+        request = [
+          search_base.to_ber,
+          scope.to_ber_enumerated,
+          deref.to_ber_enumerated,
+          query_limit.to_ber, # size limit
+          0.to_ber,
+          attributes_only.to_ber,
+          search_filter.to_ber,
+          search_attributes.to_ber_sequence
+        ].to_ber_appsequence(3)
+
+        # rfc2696_cookie sometimes contains binary data from Microsoft Active Directory
+        # this breaks when calling to_ber. (Can't force binary data to UTF-8)
+        # we have to disable paging (even though server supports it) to get around this...
+
+        controls = []
+        controls <<
+          [
+            Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::PAGED_RESULTS.to_ber,
+            # Criticality MUST be false to interoperate with normal LDAPs.
+            false.to_ber,
+            rfc2696_cookie.map{ |v| v.to_ber}.to_ber_sequence.to_s.to_ber
+          ].to_ber_sequence if paged_searches_supported
+        controls << sort_control if sort_control
+        controls = controls.empty? ? nil : controls.to_ber_contextspecific(0)
+
+        pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request, controls].compact.to_ber_sequence
+        write pkt
+
+        result_pdu = nil
+        controls = []
+
+        while (be = read) && (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be))
+          case pdu.app_tag
+          when Net::LDAP::PDU::SearchReturnedData
+            n_results += 1
+            yield pdu.search_entry if block_given?
+          when Net::LDAP::PDU::SearchResultReferral
+            if return_referrals
+              if block_given?
+                se = Net::LDAP::Entry.new
+                se[:search_referrals] = (pdu.search_referrals || [])
+                yield se
+              end
+            end
+          when Net::LDAP::PDU::SearchResult
+            result_pdu = pdu
+            controls = pdu.result_controls
+            if return_referrals && pdu.result_code == 10
+              if block_given?
+                se = Net::LDAP::Entry.new
+                se[:search_referrals] = (pdu.search_referrals || [])
+                yield se
+              end
+            end
+            break
+          else
+            raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "invalid response-type in search: #{pdu.app_tag}"
+          end
+        end
+
+        # count number of pages of results
+        payload[:page_count] ||= 0
+        payload[:page_count]  += 1
+
+        # When we get here, we have seen a type-5 response. If there is no
+        # error AND there is an RFC-2696 cookie, then query again for the next
+        # page of results. If not, we're done. Don't screw this up or we'll
+        # break every search we do.
+        #
+        # Noticed 02Sep06, look at the read_ber call in this loop, shouldn't
+        # that have a parameter of AsnSyntax? Does this just accidentally
+        # work? According to RFC-2696, the value expected in this position is
+        # of type OCTET STRING, covered in the default syntax supported by
+        # read_ber, so I guess we're ok.
+        more_pages = false
+        if result_pdu.result_code == 0 and controls
+          controls.each do |c|
+            if c.oid == Net::LDAP::LDAPControls::PAGED_RESULTS
+              # just in case some bogus server sends us more than 1 of these.
+              more_pages = false
+              if c.value and c.value.length > 0
+                cookie = c.value.read_ber[1]
+                if cookie and cookie.length > 0
+                  rfc2696_cookie[1] = cookie
+                  more_pages = true
+                end
+              end
+            end
+          end
+        end
+
+        break unless more_pages
+      end # loop
+
+      # track total result count
+      payload[:result_count] = n_results
+
+      result_pdu || OpenStruct.new(:status => :failure, :result_code => 1, :message => "Invalid search")
+    end # instrument
+  end
+
+  MODIFY_OPERATIONS = { #:nodoc:
+    :add => 0,
+    :delete => 1,
+    :replace => 2
+  }
+
+  def self.modify_ops(operations)
+    ops = []
+    if operations
+      operations.each { |op, attrib, values|
+        # TODO, fix the following line, which gives a bogus error if the
+        # opcode is invalid.
+        op_ber = MODIFY_OPERATIONS[op.to_sym].to_ber_enumerated
+        values = [ values ].flatten.map { |v| v.to_ber if v }.to_ber_set
+        values = [ attrib.to_s.to_ber, values ].to_ber_sequence
+        ops << [ op_ber, values ].to_ber
+      }
+    end
+    ops
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # TODO: need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
+  # TODO: We're throwing an exception here on empty DN. Should return a
+  # proper error instead, probaby from farther up the chain.
+  # TODO: If the user specifies a bogus opcode, we'll throw a confusing
+  # error here ("to_ber_enumerated is not defined on nil").
+  #++
+  def modify(args)
+    modify_dn = args[:dn] or raise "Unable to modify empty DN"
+    ops = self.class.modify_ops args[:operations]
+    request = [ modify_dn.to_ber,
+      ops.to_ber_sequence ].to_ber_appsequence(6)
+    pkt = [ next_msgid.to_ber, request ].to_ber_sequence
+    write pkt
+
+    (be = read) && (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) && (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::ModifyResponse) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "response missing or invalid"
+
+    pdu
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # TODO: need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
+  # Unlike other operation-methods in this class, we return a result hash
+  # rather than a simple result number. This is experimental, and eventually
+  # we'll want to do this with all the others. The point is to have access
+  # to the error message and the matched-DN returned by the server.
+  #++
+  def add(args)
+    add_dn = args[:dn] or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "Unable to add empty DN"
+    add_attrs = []
+    a = args[:attributes] and a.each { |k, v|
+      add_attrs << [ k.to_s.to_ber, Array(v).map { |m| m.to_ber}.to_ber_set ].to_ber_sequence
+    }
+
+    request = [add_dn.to_ber, add_attrs.to_ber_sequence].to_ber_appsequence(8)
+    pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request].to_ber_sequence
+    write pkt
+
+    (be = read) &&
+      (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) &&
+      (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::AddResponse) or
+      raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "response missing or invalid"
+
+    pdu
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # TODO: need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
+  #++
+  def rename(args)
+    old_dn = args[:olddn] or raise "Unable to rename empty DN"
+    new_rdn = args[:newrdn] or raise "Unable to rename to empty RDN"
+    delete_attrs = args[:delete_attributes] ? true : false
+    new_superior = args[:new_superior]
+
+    request = [old_dn.to_ber, new_rdn.to_ber, delete_attrs.to_ber]
+    request << new_superior.to_ber_contextspecific(0) unless new_superior == nil
+
+    pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request.to_ber_appsequence(12)].to_ber_sequence
+    write pkt
+
+    (be = read) &&
+    (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new( be )) && (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::ModifyRDNResponse) or
+    raise Net::LDAP::LdapError.new( "response missing or invalid" )
+
+    pdu
+  end
+
+  #--
+  # TODO, need to support a time limit, in case the server fails to respond.
+  #++
+  def delete(args)
+    dn = args[:dn] or raise "Unable to delete empty DN"
+    controls = args.include?(:control_codes) ? args[:control_codes].to_ber_control : nil #use nil so we can compact later
+    request = dn.to_s.to_ber_application_string(10)
+    pkt = [next_msgid.to_ber, request, controls].compact.to_ber_sequence
+    write pkt
+
+    (be = read) && (pdu = Net::LDAP::PDU.new(be)) && (pdu.app_tag == Net::LDAP::PDU::DeleteResponse) or raise Net::LDAP::LdapError, "response missing or invalid"
+
+    pdu
+  end
+end # class Connection
diff --git a/lib/net/ldap/dataset.rb b/lib/net/ldap/dataset.rb
index ffdee11f..54fc1a07 100644
--- a/lib/net/ldap/dataset.rb
+++ b/lib/net/ldap/dataset.rb
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
 # to and from LDIF strings and Net::LDAP::Entry objects.
 class Net::LDAP::Dataset < Hash
   ##
-  # Dataset object comments.
-  attr_reader :comments
+  # Dataset object version, comments.
+  attr_accessor :version
+  attr_reader   :comments
 
   def initialize(*args, &block) # :nodoc:
     super
+    @version  = nil
     @comments = []
   end
 
@@ -17,6 +19,12 @@ def initialize(*args, &block) # :nodoc:
   # entries.
   def to_ldif
     ary = []
+
+    if version
+      ary << "version: #{version}"
+      ary << ""
+    end
+
     ary += @comments unless @comments.empty?
     keys.sort.each do |dn|
       ary << "dn: #{dn}"
@@ -125,8 +133,14 @@ def read_ldif(io)
           if line =~ /^#/
             ds.comments << line
             yield :comment, line if block_given?
-          elsif line =~ /^dn:[\s]*/i
-            dn = $'
+          elsif line =~ /^version:[\s]*([0-9]+)$/i
+            ds.version = $1
+            yield :version, line if block_given?
+          elsif line =~ /^dn:([\:]?)[\s]*/i
+            # $1 is a colon if the dn-value is base-64 encoded
+            # $' is the dn-value
+            # Avoid the Base64 class because not all Ruby versions have it.
+            dn = ($1 == ":") ? $'.unpack('m').shift : $'
             ds[dn] = Hash.new { |k,v| k[v] = [] }
             yield :dn, dn if block_given?
           elsif line.empty?
diff --git a/net-ldap.gemspec b/net-ldap.gemspec
index 854d4c6e..92ebfb45 100644
--- a/net-ldap.gemspec
+++ b/net-ldap.gemspec
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Our roadmap for Net::LDAP 1.0 is to gain full <em>client</em> compliance with
 the most recent LDAP RFCs (4510-4519, plutions of 4520-4532).}
   s.email = ["blackhedd@rubyforge.org", "gemiel@gmail.com", "rory.ocon@gmail.com", "kaspar.schiess@absurd.li", "austin@rubyforge.org"]
   s.extra_rdoc_files = ["Manifest.txt", "Contributors.rdoc", "Hacking.rdoc", "History.rdoc", "License.rdoc", "README.rdoc"]
-  s.files = [".autotest", ".rspec", "Contributors.rdoc", "Hacking.rdoc", "History.rdoc", "License.rdoc", "Manifest.txt", "README.rdoc", "Rakefile", "autotest/discover.rb", "lib/net-ldap.rb", "lib/net/ber.rb", "lib/net/ber/ber_parser.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/array.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/bignum.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/false_class.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/fixnum.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/string.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/true_class.rb", "lib/net/ldap.rb", "lib/net/ldap/dataset.rb", "lib/net/ldap/dn.rb", "lib/net/ldap/entry.rb", "lib/net/ldap/filter.rb", "lib/net/ldap/instrumentation.rb", "lib/net/ldap/password.rb", "lib/net/ldap/pdu.rb", "lib/net/snmp.rb", "net-ldap.gemspec", "spec/integration/ssl_ber_spec.rb", "spec/spec.opts", "spec/spec_helper.rb", "spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ber/core_ext/string_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap/dn_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap/entry_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap/filter_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap_spec.rb", "test/common.rb", "test/test_entry.rb", "test/test_filter.rb", "test/test_ldap_connection.rb", "test/test_ldif.rb", "test/test_password.rb", "test/test_rename.rb", "test/test_snmp.rb", "test/testdata.ldif", "testserver/ldapserver.rb", "testserver/testdata.ldif", "lib/net/ldap/version.rb"]
+  s.files = [".autotest", ".rspec", "Contributors.rdoc", "Hacking.rdoc", "History.rdoc", "License.rdoc", "Manifest.txt", "README.rdoc", "Rakefile", "autotest/discover.rb", "lib/net-ldap.rb", "lib/net/ber.rb", "lib/net/ber/ber_parser.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/array.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/bignum.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/false_class.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/fixnum.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/string.rb", "lib/net/ber/core_ext/true_class.rb", "lib/net/ldap.rb", "lib/net/ldap/dataset.rb", "lib/net/ldap/dn.rb", "lib/net/ldap/entry.rb", "lib/net/ldap/filter.rb", "lib/net/ldap/instrumentation.rb", "lib/net/ldap/password.rb", "lib/net/ldap/pdu.rb", "lib/net/snmp.rb", "net-ldap.gemspec", "spec/integration/ssl_ber_spec.rb", "spec/spec_helper.rb", "spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ber/core_ext/string_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap/dn_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap/entry_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap/filter_spec.rb", "spec/unit/ldap_spec.rb", "test/common.rb", "test/test_entry.rb", "test/test_filter.rb", "test/test_ldap_connection.rb", "test/test_ldif.rb", "test/test_password.rb", "test/test_rename.rb", "test/test_snmp.rb", "test/testdata.ldif", "testserver/ldapserver.rb", "testserver/testdata.ldif", "lib/net/ldap/version.rb"]
   s.homepage = %q{http://github.com/ruby-ldap/ruby-net-ldap}
   s.rdoc_options = ["--main", "README.rdoc"]
   s.require_paths = ["lib"]
diff --git a/spec/spec.opts b/spec/spec.opts
deleted file mode 100644
index d019bfbf..00000000
--- a/spec/spec.opts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
---format specdoc
---colour
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb b/spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb
index 9806cc85..68242c43 100644
--- a/spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/ber/ber_spec.rb
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@
 					raw_string("\x04\x10" + "j1\xB4\xA1*\xA2zA\xAC\xA9`?'\xDDQ\x16")
 			end
       it "should not fail on strings that can not be converted to UTF-8" do
-        error = Encoding::UndefinedConversionError
-        lambda {"\x81".to_ber }.should_not raise_exception(error)
+        expect { "\x81".to_ber }.not_to raise_error
       end
     end
   end
@@ -120,21 +119,21 @@
     context "binary data" do
       let(:data) { ["6a31b4a12aa27a41aca9603f27dd5116"].pack("H*").force_encoding("ASCII-8BIT") }
 
-      its(:valid_encoding?) { should be_true }
+      specify { subject.valid_encoding?.should == true }
       specify { subject.encoding.name.should == "ASCII-8BIT" }
     end
 
     context "ascii data in UTF-8" do
       let(:data) { "some text".force_encoding("UTF-8") }
 
-      its(:valid_encoding?) { should be_true }
+      specify { subject.valid_encoding?.should == true }
       specify { subject.encoding.name.should == "UTF-8" }
     end
 
     context "UTF-8 data in UTF-8" do
       let(:data) { ["e4b8ad"].pack("H*").force_encoding("UTF-8") }
-      
-      its(:valid_encoding?) { should be_true }
+
+      specify { subject.valid_encoding?.should == true }
       specify { subject.encoding.name.should == "UTF-8" }
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/unit/ldap/search_spec.rb b/spec/unit/ldap/search_spec.rb
index 1a44f136..55aa94db 100644
--- a/spec/unit/ldap/search_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/ldap/search_spec.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def search(args)
   context "when :return_result => false" do
     it "should return false upon error" do
       result = @connection.search(:return_result => false)
-      result.should be_false
+      result.should == false
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/ldap_spec.rb b/spec/unit/ldap_spec.rb
index af80f324..8f756b68 100644
--- a/spec/unit/ldap_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/ldap_spec.rb
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@
         bind_result = flexmock(:bind_result, :success? => true)
         @connection.should_receive(:bind).with(Hash).and_return(bind_result)
 
-        subject.bind.should be_true
+        subject.bind.should == true
 
         payload, result = events.pop
-        result.should be_true
+        result.should == true
         payload[:bind].should == bind_result
       end
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
                     yields(entry = Net::LDAP::Entry.new("uid=user1,ou=users,dc=example,dc=com")).
                     and_return(flexmock(:search_result, :success? => true, :result_code => 0))
 
-        subject.search(:filter => "(uid=user1)").should be_true
+        subject.search(:filter => "(uid=user1)").should_not be_nil
 
         payload, result = events.pop
         result.should == [entry]
diff --git a/test/test_ldif.rb b/test/test_ldif.rb
index fb4d5ee9..eb9dfd32 100644
--- a/test/test_ldif.rb
+++ b/test/test_ldif.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ def test_empty_ldif
     assert_equal(true, ds.empty?)
   end
 
+  def test_ldif_with_version
+    io = StringIO.new("version: 1")
+    ds = Net::LDAP::Dataset.read_ldif(io)
+    assert_equal "1", ds.version
+  end
+
   def test_ldif_with_comments
     str = ["# Hello from LDIF-land", "# This is an unterminated comment"]
     io = StringIO.new(str[0] + "\r\n" + str[1])
@@ -47,6 +53,18 @@ def test_ldif_tab_is_not_continuation
     assert_equal(true, ds.has_key?("key"))
   end
 
+  def test_ldif_with_base64_dn
+    str = "dn:: Q049QmFzZTY0IGRuIHRlc3QsT1U9VGVzdCxPVT1Vbml0cyxEQz1leGFtcGxlLERDPWNvbQ==\r\n\r\n"
+    ds = Net::LDAP::Dataset::read_ldif(StringIO.new(str))
+    assert_equal(true, ds.has_key?("CN=Base64 dn test,OU=Test,OU=Units,DC=example,DC=com"))
+  end
+
+  def test_ldif_with_base64_dn_and_continuation_lines
+    str = "dn:: Q049QmFzZTY0IGRuIHRlc3Qgd2l0aCBjb250aW51YXRpb24gbGluZSxPVT1UZXN0LE9VPVVua\r\n XRzLERDPWV4YW1wbGUsREM9Y29t\r\n\r\n"
+    ds = Net::LDAP::Dataset::read_ldif(StringIO.new(str))
+    assert_equal(true, ds.has_key?("CN=Base64 dn test with continuation line,OU=Test,OU=Units,DC=example,DC=com"))
+  end
+
   # TODO, INADEQUATE. We need some more tests
   # to verify the content.
   def test_ldif
@@ -76,4 +94,11 @@ def test_to_ldif
     assert_equal(entries.size, ds.size)
     assert_equal(entries.sort, ds.to_ldif.grep(/^dn:\s*/) { $'.chomp })
   end
+
+  def test_to_ldif_with_version
+    ds = Net::LDAP::Dataset.new
+    ds.version = "1"
+
+    assert_equal "version: 1", ds.to_ldif_string.chomp
+  end
 end