What is active directory?

Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is a set of services and databases that help manage network resources and enable network administrators to manage permissions and access to network resources. Here are the key features and components of Active Directory:

1. Directory Services: AD provides a centralized directory for storing information about network resources such as users, computers, printers, and other devices. This directory is organized in a hierarchical structure, making it easy to manage and retrieve information.

2. Domain Services (AD DS): AD DS is the core service in Active Directory. It provides the methods for storing directory data and making this data available to network users and administrators. It handles user logins, authentication, and searches within the directory.

3. Organizational Units (OUs): OUs are containers within an AD domain that can hold users, groups, computers, and other OUs. They provide a way to organize and manage a large number of objects within the directory.

4. Groups and Group Policies: Groups are collections of users, computers, or other groups that can be managed as a single unit. Group Policies allow administrators to manage the working environment of user and computer accounts, including security settings, software installation, and maintenance.

5. Trust Relationships: AD allows for the establishment of trust relationships between domains, enabling users in one domain to access resources in another domain within the same forest (a collection of one or more AD domains).

6. Replication: AD uses replication to ensure that directory data is synchronized across multiple domain controllers within a domain or forest. This ensures data consistency and availability.

7. Authentication and Authorization: AD provides authentication services, verifying the identity of users and computers trying to access the network. It also handles authorization, determining what resources authenticated users can access and what actions they can perform.

8. Schema: The AD schema defines the objects and attributes that the directory can store. It is a blueprint for how data is organized within AD, and it can be extended or modified to meet specific organizational needs.

9. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP): AD supports LDAP, a protocol used to access and manage directory information. LDAP enables applications to query and modify directory data.

10. Integration with Other Services: AD integrates with a wide range of Microsoft services and products, including Exchange Server, SharePoint, and System Center. It also supports integration with third-party applications and services.

Active Directory is widely used in enterprise environments for identity and access management, enabling centralized administration of network resources and providing a scalable and secure framework for managing users, devices, and policies.