Active Directory stores information about objects on the network, such as users, computers, and groups, making this information available to users and computers within the network. Active Directory provides a central location for network administration and security. It is essential to understand what can active directory do?
How does it work?
Active Directory uses a multi-master model, meaning that each domain controller can accept and process updates to the directory without relying on a single, centralized server. This allows for greater flexibility and scalability when deploying Active Directory in large networks.
When a user wants to access a resource on the network, such as a file server or printer, Active Directory authenticates the user and authorizes their access to the resource. Active Directory can also be used to manage permissions for groups of users, such as granting read-only access to a shared folder for all accounting department members.
What are the benefits?
There are many benefits to using Active Directory, including:
-Improved security: Active Directory can help improve security by allowing administrators to assign granular permissions to users and groups. For example, an administrator can allow the accounting department read-only access to a shared folder containing sensitive financial data.
-Ease of administration: Active Directory can make managing user accounts and permissions easier by allowing administrators to create groups and assign permissions to those groups. This reduces the amount of work required to manage individual user accounts.
-Improved reliability: Active Directory can improve the reliability of your network by providing a central location for storing information about objects on the network. This makes it easy to find and fix problems when they occur.
-Improved performance: Active Directory can improve the performance of your network by caching information about objects on the network. This reduces the time required to access data stored on network resources.
What are the requirements?
To use Active Directory, you must have a Windows Server domain controller. You can also use Active Directory on a stand-alone server, which is not recommended for production environments.
You must also have DNS configured and working correctly in your environment. For example, an active Directory relies on DNS to resolve names and locate resources on the network.
Lastly, you need to have a network infrastructure in place that can support Active Directory. For example, you need to have switches and routers that can handle the increased traffic that Active Directory generates.
If you do not have a domain controller, you can create one by installing the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role on a Windows server.
In conclusion, Active Directory is a robust directory service that can provide many benefits to your network. However, it is essential to understand the requirements and how it works before implementing them in your environment.