FSMO
Multimaster
Active Directory cannot be installed on systems that aren't Microsoft. However, you can have Active Directory functionality on non-Microsoft systems by using third party software such as Samba, which runs in a Unix/Linux environment and provides the Active Directory functionality.
Active Directory was previewed in 1999, released first with Windows 2000 Server edition, and revised to extend functionality and improve administration in Windows Server 2003. Additional improvements were made in Windows Server 2003 R2. Active Directory was refined further in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 and was renamed Active Directory Domain Services. Active Directory was called NTDS (NT Directory Service) in older Microsoft documents. This name can still be seen in some Active Directory binaries.
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.
dcdiag
The Active Directory administrative tools can only be used from a computer with access to a domain. The following Active Directory administrative tools are available on the Administrative Tools menu: Active Directory Users and Computers (dsa.msc) Active Directory Domains and Trusts (domain.msc) Active Directory Sites and Services (dssite.msc)
Active Directory in general uses a multimaster scheme for updating the directory databases between domain controllers, there are specific functions that can only be performed on specific domain controllers. These specific functions are assigned to one of the five FSMO roles, (pronounced "fiz-moe roles") which can be assigned to one or more Domain Controllers.
DHCP
The main benefits of using an active directory like LDAP Active Directory are many. One can use an active directory to allow for scheduling to made and updated in a timely manner.
Some books one could use as tutorials for Active Directory are Active Directory Cookbook, Active Directory for Dummies as well as Windows 2000 Active Directory. All have various problem solving techniques one could use and they can be easily referenced.
Active directory users are nothing but the ones those are authenticated or able to access the directory with all the benefits of directory
The DS tools consist of the following commands DSQUERY - search for active directory objects matching criteria DSGET - retrieves selected attributes from active directory objects DSMOD - modify attributes for one or more active directory objects DSADD - create active directory objects DSMOVE - move active directory objects DSRM - removes/deletes active directory objects