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Lesson 1

Active Directory Logical Structure

Introduction to Active Directory

In a Microsoft Windows network, the Active Directory(tm) provides the structure and functions for organizing, managing, and controlling network resources. Whereas in the legacy operating system NT 4.0, network management required the use of numerous different administrative tools, the Active Directory provides a centralized database and a common interface (the Microsoft Management Console or MMC).
The Active Directory provides a whole new way of accomplishing administrative tasks and allows for far more granularity in delegating administrative authority. It also provides compatibility with other Lightweight Directory Protocol (LDAP) [1] directory services, allowing for interoperability in a variety of network environments. This module will teach you the role and structure of Active Directory. Mastering this material is not difficult, but it will take time. At the end of this module, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the role of Active Directory in Windows
  2. Describe which Internet standards and technologies supported by Active Directory
  3. Describe the naming conventions in Active Directory that you must consider when establishing a Windows network
  4. Describe the logical structure of Active Directory
  5. Define the role of domains
  6. Define the role of organizational units (OUs)
  7. Define the relationship between trees and forests In the next lesson, you will learn the structure and elements of Active Directory as well as its relationship to other tools of network administration.
[1]Lightweight Directory Protocol (LDAP): A standardized directory services protocol which is the primary access protocol for Active Directory, defined by RFC 2251.