Trying to set up LDAP based authentication : www.limesurvey.org/manual/Authentication_plugins#LDAP
Is there a way to programatically import user accounts from authentication server.
In other words do I have to manually create the users?

Why not use autocreate to true ?
github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey/blob/ma...DAP/AuthLDAP.php#L95

Thanks, Sorry for long delay, I have tried this.
I've gotten it to the point where it's able to query AD, but it gives me this error...

Failed to add user
The email address is not valid.

which doesn't really make sense, and the log files aren't really all that helpful
Any idea how to deal with this?

There are an issue with User and email : bugs.limesurvey.org/view.php?id=12145

2 solution :
1. add a good email to the LDAP (even if it's a false one, and same for all users, for example admin@example.org)
2. Hack AuthLdap cadoe to set a false email