ACTIVE DIRECTORY
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory (AD) is a database and set of services that connect users with the network
resources they need to get their work done. The database (or directory) contains critical
information about your environment, it is an identity management service that contains all
the information and data about a network and its objects. Users, computers, groups, and
printers are some of the objects in Active Directory. All these objects have a distinct set of
attributes assigned to them, it authenticates and authorizes all users and computers in a
Windows domain type network, assigning and enforcing security policies for all computers,
and installing or updating software.
Active Directory follows a structure that consists of domains, trees, and a forest.
Domain:
It contains objects, like users, computers, groups, printers, and file servers.
Tree:
It is a collection of domains. Objects from different domains can interact through ‘trusts.
Forest:
It is a collection of trees and is the top-level classification. Objects from different forests
cannot interact with each other, which limits information and data exchange across forests.
A forest is a logical construct used by Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to group
one or more domains. The domains then store objects for user or groups and provide
authentication services. In an Azure AD DS managed domain, the forest only contains one
domain
Important Topic’s within Active Directory
• User's and Group Management
• Account creation (Manually)
• Disabling user account
• Processing leavers request
• Clearing local and roaming profile for the user
• Password reset
• Password Unlocking
• Adding Member to the group
• DL distribution group
• SG -Security Group
• Domain local group
• Attribute Editor
• MMC Console – How to connect
• Command Line Shortcuts
• Group Policies overview
PDC- primary domain controller also known as DC (Domain Controller)
BDC-Backup Domain controller also known as ADC (Additional Domain Controller)
1
IT Gateway
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory (AD) is a database and set of services that connect users with the network
resources they need to get their work done. The database (or directory) contains critical
information about your environment, it is an identity management service that contains all
the information and data about a network and its objects. Users, computers, groups, and
printers are some of the objects in Active Directory. All these objects have a distinct set of
attributes assigned to them, it authenticates and authorizes all users and computers in a
Windows domain type network, assigning and enforcing security policies for all computers,
and installing or updating software.
Active Directory follows a structure that consists of domains, trees, and a forest.
Domain:
It contains objects, like users, computers, groups, printers, and file servers.
Tree:
It is a collection of domains. Objects from different domains can interact through ‘trusts.
Forest:
It is a collection of trees and is the top-level classification. Objects from different forests
cannot interact with each other, which limits information and data exchange across forests.
A forest is a logical construct used by Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to group
one or more domains. The domains then store objects for user or groups and provide
authentication services. In an Azure AD DS managed domain, the forest only contains one
domain
Important Topic’s within Active Directory
• User's and Group Management
• Account creation (Manually)
• Disabling user account
• Processing leavers request
• Clearing local and roaming profile for the user
• Password reset
• Password Unlocking
• Adding Member to the group
• DL distribution group
• SG -Security Group
• Domain local group
• Attribute Editor
• MMC Console – How to connect
• Command Line Shortcuts
• Group Policies overview
PDC- primary domain controller also known as DC (Domain Controller)
BDC-Backup Domain controller also known as ADC (Additional Domain Controller)
1
IT Gateway
