Windows Server 2012: Active Directory

Overview: Active Directory (AD) is a directory service that provides authentication, authorization, and management of computer resources.
Features:
- Centralized management of users, groups, and computers
- Single sign-on (SSO) for users
- Enforcement of security policies
- Support for Kerberos and NTLM authentication
Components:
- Domain Controllers (DCs): authenticate users and manage directory data
- Domain: a logical group of computers and users
- Forest: a collection of domains
- Trees: a hierarchical structure of domains
New features in Windows Server 2012:
- Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS): enables single sign-on across organizations
- Dynamic Access Control (DAC): provides granular access control and auditing

Overview: Hyper-V is a virtualization platform that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical host.
Features:
- Support for multiple VMs per host
- Live migration of VMs between hosts
- High availability and clustering
- Support for various guest operating systems
New features in Windows Server 2012:
- Hyper-V Replica: provides disaster recovery and business continuity
- Virtual Fibre Channel: enables VMs to connect to SAN storage
- Network Virtualization: allows multiple VMs to share a single IP address

Overview: DNS (Domain Name System) is a service that translates domain names to IP addresses.
Features:
- Resolution of domain names to IP addresses
- Support for forward and reverse lookups
- Caching of DNS queries
New features in Windows Server 2012:
- DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC): provides security and integrity for DNS queries
- DNS caching: improves DNS query performance

Overview: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a service that assigns IP addresses and other network settings to clients.
Features:
- Dynamic assignment of IP addresses and other network settings
- Support for IPv4 and IPv6
- Lease management and renewal
New features in Windows Server 2012:
- DHCP Failover: provides high availability and redundancy
- DHCP Policy-based Assignment: allows for granular assignment of IP addresses

Overview: File Server is a role that provides shared access to files and folders across the network.
Features:
- Centralized storage and management of files
- Support for SMB 3.0 and NFS protocols
- File sharing and permissions
New features in Windows Server 2012:
- SMB 3.0: provides improved performance and security for file transfers
- Data Deduplication: reduces storage usage and improves data compression

Active Directory (AD) provides authentication, authorization, and management of computer resources.
AD features include:
- Centralized management of users, groups, and computers.
- Single sign-on (SSO) for users.
- Enforcement of security policies.
- Support for Kerberos and NTLM authentication.
AD components include:
- Domain Controllers (DCs) that authenticate users and manage directory data.
- Domains, which are logical groups of computers and users.
- Forests, which are collections of domains.
- Trees, which are hierarchical structures of domains.
New features in Windows Server 2012 include:
- Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) for single sign-on across organizations.
- Dynamic Access Control (DAC) for granular access control and auditing.

Hyper-V is a virtualization platform that allows multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical host.
Hyper-V features include:
- Support for multiple VMs per host.
- Live migration of VMs between hosts.
- High availability and clustering.
- Support for various guest operating systems.
New features in Windows Server 2012 include:
- Hyper-V Replica for disaster recovery and business continuity.
- Virtual Fibre Channel, which enables VMs to connect to SAN storage.
- Network Virtualization, which allows multiple VMs to share a single IP address.

DNS (Domain Name System) translates domain names to IP addresses.
DNS features include:
- Resolution of domain names to IP addresses.
- Support for forward and reverse lookups.
- Caching of DNS queries.
New features in Windows Server 2012 include:
- DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) for security and integrity of DNS queries.
- DNS caching, which improves DNS query performance.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) assigns IP addresses and other network settings to clients.
DHCP features include:
- Dynamic assignment of IP addresses and other network settings.
- Support for IPv4 and IPv6.
- Lease management and renewal.
New features in Windows Server 2012 include:
- DHCP Failover for high availability and redundancy.
- DHCP Policy-based Assignment, which allows for granular assignment of IP addresses.

File Server provides shared access to files and folders across the network.
File Server features include:
- Centralized storage and management of files.
- Support for SMB 3.0 and NFS protocols.
- File sharing and permissions.
New features in Windows Server 2012 include:
- SMB 3.0, which provides improved performance and security for file transfers.
- Data Deduplication, which reduces storage usage and improves data compression.