For the configuration of AD
install windows 2003 on the server
install Ad by dcpromo on the run command and follow required steps to install AD
for troubleshooting of AD install support tools, admin.pak in the server which will give you all the features to monitor and troubleshoot AD
At Active Directory configuration partition
The Active Directory configuration partition is a critical component of the Active Directory architecture that stores configuration data for the directory service itself. It contains information about the Active Directory forest, including the schema, replication topology, and services available within the forest. This partition is replicated across all domain controllers in the forest, ensuring that every controller has consistent configuration information. It plays a key role in enabling the functionality and management of Active Directory environments.
Active Directory NC (Naming Context's)Active Directory consists of three partitions or naming contexts (NC) Domain, Configuration and Schema Naming ContextsEach are replicated independentlyAn Active Directory forest has single schema and configuration Every domain controller (DC) holds a copy of each (schema, configuration NC's)Forest can have multiple domains Every domain controller in a domain holds a copy of the domain NC
Active Directory NC (Naming Context's) * Active Directory consists of three partitions or naming contexts (NC) ** Domain, Configuration and Schema Naming Contexts * Each are replicated independently * An Active Directory forest has single schema and configuration ** Every domain controller (DC) holds a copy of each (schema, configuration NC's) * Forest can have multiple domains ** Every domain controller in a domain holds a copy of the domain NC
Active Directory NC (Naming Context's)Active Directory consists of three partitions or naming contexts (NC) Domain, Configuration and Schema Naming ContextsEach are replicated independentlyAn Active Directory forest has single schema and configuration Every domain controller (DC) holds a copy of each (schema, configuration NC's)Forest can have multiple domains Every domain controller in a domain holds a copy of the domain NC
OID, page 48 of the book we all have for this class, WIndows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration.
The Schema and Configuration partition
1.-schema partition 2.-configuration partition 3.-domain partition 4.-application partition
*Schema NC, *Configuration NC, * Domain NC Schema NC This NC is replicated to every other domain controller in the forest. It contains information about the Active Directory schema, which in turn defines the different object classes and attributes within Active Directory. Configuration NC Also replicated to every other DC in the forest, this NC contains forest-wide configuration information pertaining to the physical layout of Active Directory, as well as information about display specifiers and forest-wide Active Directory quotas. Domain NC This NC is replicated to every other DC within a single Active Directory domain. This is the NC that contains the most commonly-accessed Active Directory data: the actual users, groups, computers, and other objects that reside within a particular Active Directory domain
SRV records. SRV Records are the locator records withing DNS that allow clients to locate an Active Directory domain controller or global catalog.Source: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration Official Academic Course Textbook.
Configuration
GPOs in Active Directory are configured to be applied over Computer Systems (Computer Configuration)and Users (User Configuration) using those Computers.USER Configuration in Group Policy Editor is used for controlling User Environment.