What is Active Directory?

Active directory is a repository of objects (users, printers, etc) that can be utilized and managed. As far as differences between w2k and nt4 there are alot and the best reference to the differences is going to be from www.microsoft.com.

Active Directory is a new database in which all network objects are placed and managed.
With Active Directory, every resource is an object.Users, groups,printers,organizational roles and even printers are managed independently of each other.Active Directory replaces the security accounts manager in windows NT. It provides a hiarchial , distributed database that is very scaleable.

Active directory is a logical organizational structure that allows one to centrally manage the domain and its resources. The major difference between 2k and NT is that with NT you have to utilize several different applications to perform certain tasks but with 2k you basically just go through one area, Active Directory.

Sorry, I just pressed by mistake the Enter.
So, it can be geographical:
|
|-Ottawa
| |-Computers
| |-Users etc.
|-Pittsburgh
| |-Computers etc

or it can be departamental:
|
|-Sales
| |-Floor1
| | |-Printers
| | |-Comp_and_Groups etc.
as it suits your company.

It also alows delegating every task you can imagine to helpers (in NT, for example, although possible, it was very difficult to delegate specific administrative tasks to simple users without giving them admin privileges.)
Active Directory is a vast subject. If you want to know more, install W2K server on a computer and check the help. It's very useful, infinite useful if compared to Windows NT's help.

It's simple way to manage objects. It store info about those objects and makes them available to user and admins. it allows single logon process to resources in the network.

I want to thank those that have provided me with suggestions and answers. As I've read more about Win2000 AD, I have an idea what it is and what it can do.

I do not need any replies to my question anymore, thank you.

Active Directory, which is an essential component of the Windows 2000 architecture, presents organizations with a directory service designed for distributed computing environments. Active Directory allows organizations to centrally manage and share information on network resources and users while acting as the central authority for network security. In addition to providing comprehensive directory services to a Windows environment, Active Directory is designed to be a consolidation point for isolating, migrating, centrally managing, and reducing the number of directories that companies require.

Maxwell

www.whatis.com can answer many "what is ..." type of questions. But active directory has had entire books written for it.

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