Active Directory Services
Active Directory Services (ADS), is a container for information within the Microsoft Server platform. It contains all information about hardware, software and users as well as groups, computers, and computers within the Microsoft domain. This repository can be accessed by computers and users via the network. This access can be used for many purposes. For example: authentication, configuration data storage etc.
Microsoft developed Active Directory, a directory service. It was introduced in Windows 2000 Server, and has since been updated in every Windows Server operating system. Active Directory Services (ADS), a directory service, creates organisational divisions that are known as domains. Active Directory Services (ADS) authenticates users and computers. Active Directory Services (ADS) assigns and enforces security policies. Active Directory Services (ADS) can also be used to update and install software.
Domains are hosted on at least one server, called the “domain controller”. You can have multiple domain controllers for each domain. Data is also replicated among them to ensure fault tolerance and load balance. Domain controllers must have static IP addresses. Domain controllers can’t get IP addresses from DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) servers. You can create a new domain or add one to an existing domain by installing Active Directory Domain Services role onto a Windows server. After installing the role, you can run Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard.
To install the role in Server Manager’s Manage menu, select Add Roles and Features. Next. Select the Role-based/Feature-based installation option. Next, select the server you want to become domain controller. Select the Active Directory Domain Services role from the Select Server Roles page. To add the features required, a dialog box will open. Click Add Features to accept the dependencies. A page with information about your role will appear after you click next. You have the following options after clicking Next:
If desired, restart the destination server automatically: After the installation is complete, the server will be restarted immediately.
Export configuration Setting: An XML file will be created that documents all the steps taken by the wizard. This XML file can be used in Power Shell to configure Active Directory Services Roles on another server.
You can specify an alternate path: You can choose the location for an image file. This file contains the software required to install selected roles and features.
Active Directory Services (ADS), is covered in detail in our Microsoft Server Solutions Associate 2012 R2 as well as Microsoft Server Solutions Associate 2016.
