Domain controller is the physical object.
The Active Directory database is stored on each domain controller in a file called NTDS.DIT
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
Domain Controller
The Restartable Active Directory, that allows you to have the ntds.dit in offline mode WITHOUT rebooting the domain controller.
In Windows Server 2011 it is called Active Directory.
No, you do not. You only install Active Directory if the system is going to be a domain controller. If it is a member server or a standalone server Active Directory should not be installed.
NTDS.DIT
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
, the server hosting the replica of Active Directory database is called Domain Controller. In it's database is all information about all objects, that exist in particular Active Directory domain.
You run the 'dcpromo' command to remove active directory and demote a domain controller to a member server. To remove AD completely you would have to do this process on all domain controllers.
Default Domain Policy and Default Domain Controller Policy
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