Active Directory

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Abstract

This paper covers how Domain Management has evolved from Window NT 4.0 to Active Directory. Also it provides an in-depth look at all of the advantages Active Directory has over Window NT 4.0. The benefits of using Active Directory are broken up into Categories including the improvements in scalability, organization, and replication. This paper also shows how users are managed in an Active Directory environment as opposed to local users.

Active Directory is a very useful tool created by Microsoft to make the server/client relationship easier to create and maintain throughout Windows based systems. Wikipedia describes Active Directory with the definition:

Active Directory is an implementation of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory services by Microsoft for use primarily in Windows environments. Its main purpose is to provide central authentication and authorization services for Windows based computers. Active Directory also allows administrators to assign policies, deploy software, and apply critical updates to an organization. Active Directory stores information and settings in a central database. Active Directory networks can vary from a small installation with a few hundred objects, to a large installation with millions of objects.

This is basically stating that Active Directory was designed to organize and manage a Domain network by providing a structure and giving the administrator the abilities to assign permission to help protect the network and also allowing the users to use special resources assigned to them by the administrator.

Before Active Directory there was Windows NT 4.0 which was in need of much improvement. It was limited to 40,000 objects and even before that limit was rea...

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Dulaney, Emmett. Active Directory: An Overview. (1999, June). In Windows IT Pro. Retrieved 05:13, February 24, 2008, from http://www.windowsitlibrary.com/Content/155/07/1.html

Hein, Gary. Active Directory: How Does It Measure Up?. (2000, November 1). In Novel Tech Center. Retrieved 05:13, February 24, 2008, from http://support.novell.com/techcenter/articles/nc2000_11b.html

Petri, Daniel. Understanding the Active Directory Schema. (2008, February 24). In Petri, IT Knowledgebase. Retrieved 05:13, February 24, 2008, from http://www.petri.co.il/understanding_active_directory_schema.htm

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