Lecture 3 
1
 Introduction to Active Directory 
 Active Directory Logical Structure 
 Active Directory Physical Structure 
2
 What Is Active Directory? 
 Active Directory Objects 
 Active Directory Schema 
 Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) 
3
4 
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  Organize 
  Manage 
  Control 
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  Single point of administration 
  Full user access to directory 
resources by a single logon
 A directory service stores all the information 
needed to use and manage these objects in a 
centralized location, simplifying the process of 
locating and managing these resources.
 What Is a Directory Service? 
 What Is a Schema? 
 What Is the Global Catalog? 
6
A structured repository of information about people and 
resources in an organization 
Domain 
OU1 
Computers 
Computer1 
Users 
User1 
Users 
User2 
OU2 
Printers 
Printer1 
KimYoshida 
Attributes Values 
Name 
Building 
Floor 
Kim Yoshida 
117 
1 
A repository is a collection of resources that can be 
accessed to retrieve information. Repositories often consist 
of several databases tied together by a common search 
engine. 7
defines all the objects and attributes that the directory service uses 
to store data 
Examples of object 
class 
User 
Computer 
Printer 
Examples of 
attributes 
accountExpires 
distinguishedName 
directReports 
dNSHostName 
operatingSystem 
firstName 
lastName
 The global catalog is the central repository of 
information about objects in a tree or forest. By 
default, a global catalog is created automatically on 
the initial domain controller in the first domain in the 
forest. A domain controller that holds a copy of the 
global catalog is called a global catalog server. 
 It stores only attributes about each objects ,such as 
objects location 
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◦ Provide a way to design and administer the 
hierarchical structure, logical structure of the 
network Include 
 Domains and organizational units 
 Trees and forests
Domain 
Domain Domain 
Domain 
Domain 
Domain 
OU 
OU OU 
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 Logical collection of users and computers. 
 Several benefits of domain 
 Enable you to organize objects within a 
single dept. or location. 
 Act as a security boundaries. 
 Domain Objects are fully replicated to the 
domain controller’s within a domain, not to 
other domains .
 Contiguous linking of one or more 
AD domains that shares a common 
namespace or in a Parent-Child 
Relationship. 
 Two-way transitive trust 
automatically created 
 Tree Root Domain :- first domain in 
a tree or parent domain 
Parent Domain 
Child Domain 
PPaarerenntt 
CChhilidld 
New 
Domain 
Tree Root Domain 
contoso.msft 
sales.contoso.msft
 Combination of One or More Trees 
 A forest is a disjointed namespace 
 www.microsoft.com 
 www.msn.com 
 Transitive Trusts created automatically
Domain 
OU 
OU Domain OU 
Objects 
Tree 
Domain 
 The Forest Root Domain Is 
the First Domain Created 
in a Forest 
Domain 
Domain 
Domain 
Tree 
Forest 
Forest Root Domain 
Tree Root Domain
 An organizational unit (OU) is a subdivision within an Active 
Directory into which you can place users, groups, computers, 
and other organizational units. You can create organizational 
units to mirror your organization's structure. 
 Implements a Structure inside a Domain 
 Can be nested as needed 
 Can not be assigned any rights 
 Typically used for Administrative Reasons 
OU 
◦ e.g. System Policies 
OU Domain OU 
Objects
 Benefits of using OUs 
◦ Easier to locate and manage the Active Directory objects 
◦ Define more advanced features by applying Group Policy to 
an OU 
◦ Delegate administrative control over OUs
 Not related to logical Structure 
 Modeled via „Sites“ 
 A site is well connected via fast Network Links 
 One Site can home multiple Domains 
 One Domain can spread across many Sites 
 Domain Database is stored on Domain Controllers
 Sites 
 Domain controllers 
 WAN links 
SSiittee 
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WWAANN LLiinnkk 
SSiittee 
A site is one or more IP subnets connected 
by a fast and reliable link.
 Domain Controller is a server on a Microsoft Windows 
Network that is responsible for allowing host access to 
Windows domain resources. The domain controllers in 
your network are the centerpiece of your Active 
directory service. It stores user account information, 
authenticates users and enforces security policy for a 
Windows domain
Contoso.msft 
Finance 
Sales 
Suzan Fine 
21 
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) 
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CN=Suzan Fine,OU=Sales,OU=Finance,DC=contoso,DC=msft

Active directory

  • 1.
  • 2.
     Introduction toActive Directory  Active Directory Logical Structure  Active Directory Physical Structure 2
  • 3.
     What IsActive Directory?  Active Directory Objects  Active Directory Schema  Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) 3
  • 4.
    4 DDiirreeccttoorryy SSeerrvviiccee FFuunnccttiioonnaalliittyy   Organize   Manage   Control RReessoouurrcceess CCCCeeeennnnttttrrrraaaallliliiizzzzeeeedddd M MMMaaaannnnaaaaggggeeeemmmmeeeennnntttt   Single point of administration   Full user access to directory resources by a single logon
  • 5.
     A directoryservice stores all the information needed to use and manage these objects in a centralized location, simplifying the process of locating and managing these resources.
  • 6.
     What Isa Directory Service?  What Is a Schema?  What Is the Global Catalog? 6
  • 7.
    A structured repositoryof information about people and resources in an organization Domain OU1 Computers Computer1 Users User1 Users User2 OU2 Printers Printer1 KimYoshida Attributes Values Name Building Floor Kim Yoshida 117 1 A repository is a collection of resources that can be accessed to retrieve information. Repositories often consist of several databases tied together by a common search engine. 7
  • 8.
    defines all theobjects and attributes that the directory service uses to store data Examples of object class User Computer Printer Examples of attributes accountExpires distinguishedName directReports dNSHostName operatingSystem firstName lastName
  • 9.
     The globalcatalog is the central repository of information about objects in a tree or forest. By default, a global catalog is created automatically on the initial domain controller in the first domain in the forest. A domain controller that holds a copy of the global catalog is called a global catalog server.  It stores only attributes about each objects ,such as objects location GGlloobbaall CCaattaalloogg RReeaadd OOnnllyy
  • 10.
    ◦ Provide away to design and administer the hierarchical structure, logical structure of the network Include  Domains and organizational units  Trees and forests
  • 11.
    Domain Domain Domain Domain Domain Domain OU OU OU DDoommaaiinn TTrreeee DDoommaaiinn OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonnaall UUnniitt FFoorreesstt OObbjjeeccttss
  • 12.
     Logical collectionof users and computers.  Several benefits of domain  Enable you to organize objects within a single dept. or location.  Act as a security boundaries.  Domain Objects are fully replicated to the domain controller’s within a domain, not to other domains .
  • 13.
     Contiguous linkingof one or more AD domains that shares a common namespace or in a Parent-Child Relationship.  Two-way transitive trust automatically created  Tree Root Domain :- first domain in a tree or parent domain Parent Domain Child Domain PPaarerenntt CChhilidld New Domain Tree Root Domain contoso.msft sales.contoso.msft
  • 14.
     Combination ofOne or More Trees  A forest is a disjointed namespace  www.microsoft.com  www.msn.com  Transitive Trusts created automatically
  • 15.
    Domain OU OUDomain OU Objects Tree Domain  The Forest Root Domain Is the First Domain Created in a Forest Domain Domain Domain Tree Forest Forest Root Domain Tree Root Domain
  • 16.
     An organizationalunit (OU) is a subdivision within an Active Directory into which you can place users, groups, computers, and other organizational units. You can create organizational units to mirror your organization's structure.  Implements a Structure inside a Domain  Can be nested as needed  Can not be assigned any rights  Typically used for Administrative Reasons OU ◦ e.g. System Policies OU Domain OU Objects
  • 17.
     Benefits ofusing OUs ◦ Easier to locate and manage the Active Directory objects ◦ Define more advanced features by applying Group Policy to an OU ◦ Delegate administrative control over OUs
  • 18.
     Not relatedto logical Structure  Modeled via „Sites“  A site is well connected via fast Network Links  One Site can home multiple Domains  One Domain can spread across many Sites  Domain Database is stored on Domain Controllers
  • 19.
     Sites Domain controllers  WAN links SSiittee DDoommaaiinn CCoonnttrroolllleerrss WWAANN LLiinnkk SSiittee A site is one or more IP subnets connected by a fast and reliable link.
  • 20.
     Domain Controlleris a server on a Microsoft Windows Network that is responsible for allowing host access to Windows domain resources. The domain controllers in your network are the centerpiece of your Active directory service. It stores user account information, authenticates users and enforces security policy for a Windows domain
  • 21.
    Contoso.msft Finance Sales Suzan Fine 21 Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) RReellaattiivvee ddiissttiinngguuiisshheedd nnaammee CN=Suzan Fine,OU=Sales,OU=Finance,DC=contoso,DC=msft