Active Directory Overview

Active Directory

• A Microsoft service that provides centralized authentication and authorization for network resources.
• Simplifies user management, controls access to data, and enforces company security policies.
• Primarily used in business environments.

Active Directory Features

• Hierarchical organization
• Centralized but distributed database
• Scalability
• Security
• Flexibility
• Policy-based administration

Active Directory Structure

• Physical Structure: consists of sites and servers configured as domain controllers.
• Logical Structure: Represents the directory service's organization within the company.
• Sites: Physical locations where domain controllers communicate and replicate information.
• Domain Controllers: Store a copy of the domain data and replicate changes to other domain controllers in the domain.
• Domain Controllers: Provide search and retrieval functions for users seeking objects in the directory.
• Domain Controllers: Provide authentication and authorization services for users accessing network resources.

Key Active Directory Components

• Organizational Units (OUs): Logical administrative units used to organize users and resources.

  • Manage user accounts, groups, computer accounts, printers, shared folders, applications, servers, and domain controllers

• Domains: Represent boundaries for administration, security, and policies.

  • Small to medium companies typically have one domain.
  • Larger companies may have multiple domains to separate geographical regions or administrative responsibilities.

• Trees: A grouping of domains sharing a common naming structure.

  • Include a parent domain and potentially child domains.

• Forests: A collection of one or more Active Directory trees that provide a unified environment.

  • All domains in all trees can communicate and share information.
  • Can consist of a single tree with a single domain, or multiple trees with hierarchies of parent and child domains.

Active Directory Overview

• Microsoft service that provides centralized authentication and authorization for network resources
• Used in business environments
• Simplifies user management, controls access to data and enforces company security policies

Features

• Hierarchical organization
• Centralized but distributed database
• Scalability
• Security
• Flexibility
• Policy-based administration

Physical Structure

• Consists of sites and servers configured as domain controllers
• Each site is a physical location where domain controllers communicate and replicate information

Logical Structure

• Represents the organization in which Active Directory runs

Domain Controller Responsibilities

• Storing a copy of the domain data
• Replicating changes to domain data to all other domain controllers
• Providing search and retrieval functions for users
• Providing authentication and authorization services

Active Directory Organization:

• Organizational Units (OUs)

  • Containers that logically organize users and resources
  • Examples: User accounts, Groups, Computer accounts, Printers, Shared folders, Applications, Servers, Domain controllers

• Domains

  • Administrative, security, and policy boundaries
  • Small to medium companies typically have one domain
  • Larger companies may have multiple domains to separate regions or responsibilities

• Trees

  • Groups of domains sharing a common naming structure
  • Consists of a parent domain and possibly multiple child domains

• Forests

  • A collection of one or more Active Directory trees
  • Provides a common Active Directory environment
  • All domains in all trees can communicate and share information
  • Can consist of a single tree with one domain or multiple trees with a hierarchy of parent and child domains

Active Directory

• A Microsoft service for centralized authentication and authorization to network resources
• Simplifies user management, controls access to data, and enforces company security policies

Directory Services

• A network service that stores information about a network and allows for retrieval and management of that information
• Active Directory acts as both an administrative tool and a service for locating network resources

Active Directory Features

• Hierarchical Organization: Structures information in a tree-like hierarchy for better organization and management
• Centralized but Distributed Database: Stores information across multiple servers for scalability and redundancy
• Scalability: Adapts to growing network needs
• Security: Implements access controls and security policies
• Flexibility: Allows customization to fit different organization needs
• Policy-based Administration: Manages network resources based on predefined policies

Active Directory Structure

• Physical Structure: Sites and servers configured as domain controllers
• Logical Structure: The directory service's organization reflects the structure of the organization it serves
• Sites: Physical locations where domain controllers communicate and replicate information
• Domain Controllers: Store a full replica of the domain's objects and perform the following tasks
  • Store and replicate domain data
  • Provide search and retrieval functions for users
  • Provide authentication and authorization services for domain users

Active Directory Components

• Organizational Units (OUs): Containers to organize network users and resources into logical administrative units
  • Examples of objects in OUs: user accounts, groups, computer accounts, printers, shared folders, applications, servers, domain controllers
• Domains: Represent administrative, security, and policy boundaries.
  • Small businesses often have one domain, while larger organizations may have multiple domains for geographical or administrative separation.
• Trees: Groupings of domains sharing a common naming structure.
  • Consist of a parent domain and possibly child domains.
• Forests: A collection of one or more Active Directory trees providing a shared environment.
  • Allows domains in different trees to communicate and share information
  • Can consist of a single tree with a single domain or multiple trees with hierarchies of parent and child domains.

Active Directory Features

• Active Directory is a Microsoft service for centralized authentication and authorization of network resources.
• It simplifies user management, controls access to data and enforces company security policies.
• Its features include:
  • Hierarchical organization
  • Centralized but distributed database
  • Scalability
  • Security
  • Flexibility
  • Policy-based administration

Active Directory Structure

• Physical Structure:
  • Composed of sites and servers configured as domain controllers.
• Logical Structure:
  • Represents the directory service's organization and structure.
• Active Directory Site:
  • A physical location where domain controllers communicate and replicate information regularly.
• Domain Controller Responsibilities:
  • Storing and replicating domain data to all domain controllers.
  • Providing data search and retrieval functions for users.
  • Providing authentication and authorization services for users.

Active Directory Components

• Organizational Units (OUs):
  • Containers used to organize users and resources into logical administrative units.
  • Examples include:
    • User accounts
    • Groups
    • Computer accounts
    • Printers
    • Shared folders
    • Applications
    • Servers
    • Domain controllers
• Domain:
  • Represents administrative, security, and policy boundaries.
  • Small to medium companies usually have one domain.
  • Larger companies may have multiple domains for geographic separation or administrative responsibilities.
• Tree:
  • A grouping of domains sharing a common naming structure.
  • Consists of a parent domain and possibly child domains.
• Forest:
  • A collection of one or more Active Directory trees, providing a common Active Directory environment.
  • Enables all domains in all trees to communicate and share information.
  • Can consist of a single tree with one domain or multiple trees with hierarchies of parent and child domains.

Active Directory

• A centralized authentication and authorization service for network resources, used in business environments.
• Simplifies user management, controls access to data, and enforces security policies.

Active Directory Features

• Hierarchical Organization: Structures information into logical units, enabling efficient management.
• Centralized but Distributed Database: Stores network information in a central location with distributed copies for redundancy.
• Scalability: Adapts to growing network demands, easily handling increased user and resource loads.
• Security: Implements robust security measures for user authentication and access control.
• Flexibility: Provides a customizable environment to meet specific business requirements.
• Policy-Based Administration: Allows for centralized policy management across the network.

Active Directory Structure

• Physical Structure: Consists of sites and servers configured as domain controllers, where data is stored and replicated.
• Logical Structure: Reflects the organization's structure, enabling efficient management and access control
• Site: A physical location where domain controllers communicate and replicate data regularly, providing a local point of reference for resources.
• Domain Controller: Stores a copy of the domain data and replicates changes to the network.

Components of Active Directory Structure

• Organizational Units (OUs): Logical containers for organizing users, computers, and other network resources within a domain.
  • User accounts, groups, computer accounts, printers, shared folders, applications, servers, and domain controllers can all be organized within OUs.
• Domains: Represent administrative, security, and policy boundaries, acting as a logical grouping of users, computers, and resources.
  • Smaller organizations typically have one domain. Larger organizations may have multiple domains to separate geographic regions or administrative responsibilities.
• Trees: A grouping of domains that share a common naming structure.
  • Contains a parent domain and potentially multiple child domains, organized in a hierarchical structure.
• Forests: Collection of one or more Active Directory trees that share a common environment.
  • Enables communication and information sharing across different trees.
  • Can consist of a single tree or multiple trees with a hierarchy of parent and child domains.

Active Directory (AD)

• A Microsoft service that enables centralized authentication and authorization for network resources.
• Utilized in business environments for simplified user management, access control, and security policy enforcement.
• Functions as a network directory service, storing and managing information about a computer network.
• Offers administrative tools and features for resource discovery.

Active Directory Features

• Hierarchical organization: Structures information in a hierarchical manner for easy management.
• Centralized but distributed database: Allows data storage and management across multiple locations for improved scalability and reliability.
• Scalability: Can be expanded to accommodate growing networks and user bases.
• Security: Provides robust security features to protect network resources and user data.
• Flexibility: Offers customization options to meet specific organizational needs.
• Policy-based administration: Enables the implementation and enforcement of security policies across the network.

Active Directory Structure

• Physical Structure: Composed of sites and servers configured as domain controllers. Sites are geographically defined locations where domain controllers communicate and replicate data.
• Logical Structure: Reflects the organizational structure of the network.

Domain Controllers

• Store a complete copy of the domain data.
• Replicate changes in data across domain controllers within the domain.
• Provide data search and retrieval functions for users looking for directory objects.
• Handle authentication and authorization for users accessing network resources.

Active Directory Components

• Organizational Units (OUs): Containers for organizing users, resources, and other objects into logical administrative units.

  • Examples: User accounts, groups, computer accounts, printers, shared folders, applications, servers, domain controllers

• Domains: Represent administrative, security, and policy boundaries.

  • Small to medium companies typically have one domain. Larger companies may have multiple domains for geographical or administrative separation.

• Trees: Groups of domains sharing a common naming structure.

  • Consist of a parent domain with potential child domains.

• Forests: Collections of one or more Active Directory trees, creating a unified environment.

  • Domains across different trees can communicate and share information.
  • Can include a single tree with a single domain or multiple trees interconnected.

Active Directory (AD)

• Microsoft service for centralized authentication and authorization of network resources
• Simplifies user management, controls data access, and enforces security policies in business environments

Network Directory Service

• Stores information about a network
• Offers features for retrieving and managing network information
• Administrative tool, but can be used to find resources

Active Directory Features

• Hierarchical organization: Organizes network resources in a structured manner
• Centralized but distributed database: Stores information in a single location, but distributes it across multiple servers
• Scalability: Ability to handle increasing numbers of users and resources
• Security: Provides robust security features to protect network resources
• Flexibility: Allows for customization and adaptation to various business needs
• Policy-based administration: Enforces consistent policies across the network

Active Directory Structure: Physical and Logical

• Physical Structure:
  • Consists of sites and servers configured as domain controllers
  • Sites: Physical locations where domain controllers communicate and replicate data
• Logical Structure:
  • Reflects the organization's structure
  • Domain controllers store a copy of the domain data and replicate changes
  • Provide data search and retrieval functions
  • Provide authentication and authorization services for users

Active Directory Organizing Components

• Organizational Unit (OU):
  • A container for organizing users and resources into logical administrative units
  • Can contain:
    • User accounts
    • Groups
    • Computer accounts
    • Printers
    • Shared folders
    • Applications
    • Servers
    • Domain controllers
• Domain:
  • Represents administrative, security, and policy boundaries
  • Small to medium companies often have one domain
  • Larger companies may have several domains to separate geographical regions or administrative responsibilities
• Tree:
  • A grouping of domains that share a common naming structure
  • Consists of a parent domain and possibly child domains
• Forest:
  • A collection of one or more Active Directory trees
  • Enables communication and information sharing across all domains in all its trees
  • A single tree with a single domain or multiple trees with a hierarchy of domains