What is Active Directory?

Introduction:
A Server in a Workgroup can supply services such as the internet connection sharing feature,the internet connection firewall,file and print services.

A Server in a Domain can be a domain controller,can supply services such as DNS and DHCP,or can serve as a router or remote access server.

To make windows 2000 server or windows server 2003 a domain controller we must install Active directory. Windows NT 4.0 do not support Active Directory. The Active Directory service is compatible with Windows NT Server 4.0. Active Directory supports the Windows NT LAN Manager protocol used by Windows NT. This enables authorized users and computers from a Windows NT domain to log on and access resources in Windows 2000 or Windows server 2003 domains. To clients running Windows 95,Windows 98,Windows NT that are not running Active Directory client software,a Windows 2000 server or Windows Server 2003 domain appears to be a Windows NT Server 4.0 Domain. Client computers running Windows XP professional,Windows 2000 Professional have the client software built in and can access Active Directory resources normally.

Active Directory:
Active Directory stores information about network objects,such as user accounts and shared printers and provides access to that information. With a single network logon,administrators can manage directory data and organization throughout their network and authorized network users can access resources anywhere on the network. Security is integrated with Active Directory through logon authentication and access control to objects in the directory. Policy based administration eases the management of complex networks also.

Active directory provides a central location for network administration and delegation of administrative authority. Active Directory includes one or more domains,each with one or more domain controllers. So it enables you to scale the directory to meet any network requirements. Users can use desktop tools to search Active Directory. So It privides flexible and global searching.

Active Directory provides Systematic synchronization of directory updates. Updates are distributed throughout the network through secure and cost efficient replication between domain controllers. We can connect to any domain controller remotely from any Windows based computer that has administrative tools installed.

Note: Articles on Windows NT,Windows 2000 Server,Windows 2003 Server will come soon on my blog under the same NETWORKING section.