Active Directory: Domain Controllers Overview

Study Notes

Active Directory: Domain Controllers

Active Directory (AD) is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows networks. It stores account login data and information on network resources, organizing them in a hierarchical structure. At the heart of Active Directory is the domain controller (DC). This server acts as a central hub for managing user identities, granting access to network resources, and providing a single point of authentication within an organization's domain.

Domain Controller Roles

Domain controllers serve various roles in Active Directory:

Authentication: When a user logs into a network managed by Active Directory, the domain controller authenticates their credentials.
Authorization: After authentication, domain controllers decide which resources the user is allowed to access based on predefined access policies.
Data Storage: Domain controllers house the Active Directory database, which holds information about objects within the network, such as users, groups, computers, printers, and shared folders.
Replication: The data stored on domain controllers is replicated across the network to maintain consistency among all domain controllers within a domain.

Active Directory Database

The data stored in Active Directory is organized using a hierarchical model consisting of domains, trees, and forests. Within this structure, domain controllers hold the following types of objects:

Container Objects: These objects can contain other objects, such as security groups and organizational units (OU). Examples include security groups and OUs.
Leaf Objects: These are standalone objects, like user accounts, computers, printers, and file shares.

Each object has attributes that describe it, such as a user's department, employee ID, contact information, and so on.

Implementation and Maintenance

To implement Active Directory, organizations install Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on a server, turning it into a domain controller. Multiple domain controllers are typically used to ensure high availability and fault tolerance, as changes to the Active Directory database are replicated across all domain controllers to maintain consistency.

Maintaining an Active Directory infrastructure involves proper configuration of the domain controller, regular updates, backups, and monitoring to ensure optimal performance and security.

In summary, domain controllers play a crucial role in the functioning of Active Directory by providing authentication, authorization, and maintaining consistent data across a distributed network.

Description

Explore the role of domain controllers in Active Directory, including authentication, authorization, data storage, and replication. Learn about the hierarchical model of the Active Directory database and the types of objects stored within. Understand the implementation and maintenance aspects of Active Directory domain controllers.

Active Directory: Domain Controllers Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of a domain controller in Active Directory?

Which role is NOT performed by domain controllers in Active Directory?

What type of data is stored in the Active Directory database?

Why is replication important for domain controllers in Active Directory?

Which hierarchical structure is used to organize data in Active Directory?

Apart from authentication and authorization, what other key function do domain controllers perform?

What types of objects can domain controllers hold?

Which of the following is an example of a Leaf Object in Active Directory?

Why are multiple domain controllers typically used in an organization's Active Directory infrastructure?

What is a key aspect of maintaining an Active Directory infrastructure?

Which function do domain controllers provide in Active Directory?

In an Active Directory environment, what are attributes used for?

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