ACTIVE DIRECTORY IS A CENTRALIZED DATABASE ...WHICH IS USED IN DOMAIN FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES.. An active directory is a directory structure used on Microsoft Windows based computers and servers to store information and data about networks and domains. It is primarily used for online information and was originally created in 1996 and first used with Windows 2000.

An active directory (sometimes referred to as an AD) does a variety of functions including the ability to provide information on objects, helps organize these objects for easy retrieval and access, allows access by end users and administrators and allows the administrator to set security up for the directory. An active directory can be defined as a hierarchical structure and this structure is usually broken up into three main categories, the resources which might include hardware such as printers, services for end users such as web email servers and objects which are the main functions of the domain and network. It is interesting to note the framework for the objects. Remember that an object can be a piece of hardware such as a printer, end user or security settings set by the administrator. These objects can hold other objects within their file structure. All objects have an ID, usually an object name (folder name). In addition to these objects being able to hold other objects, every object has its own attributes which allows it to be characterized by the information which it contains. Most IT professionals call these setting or characterizations schemas. Depending on the type of schema created for a folder, will ultimately determine how these objects are used. For instance, some objects with certain schemas can not be deleted, they can only be deactivated. Others types of schemas with certain attributes can be deleted entirely. For instance, a user object can be deleted, but the administrator object can not be deleted. When understanding active directories, it is important to know the framework that objects can be viewed at. In fact, an active directory can be viewed at either one of three levels, these levels are called forests, trees or domains. The highest structure is called the forest because you can see all objects included within the active directory. Within the Forest structure are trees, these structures usually hold one or more domains, going further down the structure of an active directory are single domains. To put the forest, trees and domains into perspective, consider the following example. A large organization has many dozens of users and processes. The forest might be the entire network of end users and specific computers at a set location. Within this forest directory are now trees that hold information on specific objects such as domain controllers, program data, system, etc. Within these objects are even more objects which can then be controlled and categorized Active Directory in Windows Server 2003

The Active Directory is the one of the important part of Windows Server 2003 networking .First need to know and understand Active directory . How does it work? It makes information easy for the administrator and the users. You can use the Active Directory to design a organization's structure according to the requirement . If you are using the Active Directory then you can scale active directory from a single computer to a single network or to many networks. In active directory you can include every object server and domain in a network.

Logical Component

In the organization you set up in Windows Server 2003 and the organization you set up in Exchange Server 2003 are the same and the same is the case with Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 as well. Now i am going to tell you it's advantage one user administrator manage all aspects of user configuration. These logical constructs which are described in the following subsections allow you to define and group resources so that they can be located and administered by the name rather than by physical location.

Objects

Object is the basic unit in the Active Directory. It is a apocarpous named set of features that represents something adjective such as a user , printer and the application. A user is also an object. In Exchange a user's features include its name and location , surrounded by other things.

Organization Unit

Organization Unit is a persona in which you can keep objects such as user accounts, groups, computer, printer . applications and other (OU). In organization unit you can assign specific permission to the user's. organization unit can also be used to create departmental limitation.

Domains

Domains is a group of computers and other resources that are part of a network and share a common directory database .Once a server has been installed , you can use the Active Directory Wizard to install Active Directory in order to install Active directory on the first server on the network , that server must have the access to a server running DNS (Domain Name Service). If you don't have install this service on your server then you will have to install this service during the Active Directory installation.. == == Active Directory in Windows Server 2003

Logical Component

Objects

Organization Unit

Domains

Resources

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Company