1. ACTIVE DIRECTORY
An Overview.. By
Karan Oberoi

2. What are directory services?
A directory service (DS) is a software application- or a set of applications - that stores and organizes information about a computer network's users and network resources.
Allows network administrators to manage users' access to the resources
Act as an abstraction layer between users and shared resources

3. Directory Services Common Features:
Provide file shares.
Authenticate users
Provide services, such as , Access to the internet,
Print services etc.
Control access to services and shares.

4. Active Directory What does it do?
Active Directory is Microsoft’s version of an LDAP based network directory service.
What does it do?
Active Directory allows administrators to define, arrange and manage objects, such as user data, printers and servers, so they are available to users and applications throughout the organization.

5. Active Directory
Microsoft’s directory service which is included in the Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 operating system versions.
Is an implementation of LDAP directory services.
Called: ADS,NTDS
Goals and Benefits
Open Standards
High Scalability
Simplified Administration

6. Active Directory Structure
Hierarchical
Base object Domain
Domain
Tree
Forest
Domain OU
Domain
Domain OU OU
Tree
Domain
Domain
Objects

7. What is the Schema? Definition of all AD
Object-Types (Classes)
Attributes
Data-Types (Syntaxes)
Can be compared to a Database Schema
ONE consistent Schema inside a single Forest
Extensible

8. Objects in Active Directory
„old Friends “
User
Group
Computer
New Elements
Distribution Lists
System Policies
Application defined custom objects
Described in the Schema