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AD-ActiveDirectory.md

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Active Directory

  • Active Directory (AD) is a directory service developed by Microsoft for Windows domain networks.
  • Active Directory contains information about user accounts, such as usernames, passwords, and permissions.
  • The domain controller uses it to authenticate users and manage access to resources.

Function:

  1. Centralized Resource Management: Stores information about objects on the network and makes this information easy for administrators and users to find and use.
  2. Hierarchy: Organizes resources in a hierarchical structure, including domains, trees, and forests.
  3. Policy Management: Allows the administration of user and computer policies.

Components:

  • AD DS (Active Directory Domain Services): Provides directory services including authentication and authorization.
  • AD LDS (Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services): Lightweight version of AD DS.
  • AD FS (Active Directory Federation Services): Provides single sign-on (SSO) capabilities.
  • AD CS (Active Directory Certificate Services): Manages public key infrastructure (PKI).

Domain Controller

  • A domain controller (DC) is a server in a Windows network that responds to authentication requests and verifies users on the network.

Function:

  1. User Authentication: Verifies user credentials and provides access to network resources.
  2. Security Policies: Enforces security policies across the network.
  3. Replication: Shares information between other domain controllers to ensure consistency.

Example: In a corporate network, when a user logs in to their workstation, the domain controller verifies their username and password against the stored credentials in the Active Directory.

Relationship Between Domain Controller and Active Directory

  • Dependency: Domain controllers rely on Active Directory to store and manage user data, group policies, and network resource information.
  • Integration: Active Directory runs on domain controllers, which serve as the backbone for user and resource management in a Windows network environment.

Diagram Overview

+------------------------------------+
|           Active Directory         |
|                                    |
|  +------------------------------+  |
|  | Domain Controller 1          |  |
|  | - User Authentication        |  |
|  | - Policy Enforcement         |  |
|  +------------------------------+  |
|                                    |
|  +------------------------------+  |
|  | Domain Controller 2          |  |
|  | - Replication                |  |
|  | - Load Balancing             |  |
|  +------------------------------+  |
|                                    |
+------------------------------------+