Installing and Configuring Active Directory

From Windows Server 2000, Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) has become the default identity provider for Windows operating systems. AD DS represents a central point for authentication and management of all AD DS objects, such as users, groups, and computer accounts. The AD DS database, a central store in AD DS, stores information related to users, groups, computers, services, and all other resources in the AD DS hierarchical structure, and is also known as the directory. AD DS gives us the ability to search objects through the hierarchically organized directory structure and to apply configuration and security settings to all active directory objects.

In this chapter, you will learn why we need AD DS, the components of AD DS, how AD DS is installed and configured, and how to create and manage AD DS objects.

We will learn about the following topics in this chapter:

• Introduction to Active Directory
• Installing and configuring Active Directory
• Active Directory users and computers
• Active Directory groups and organizational units