INTRODUCTION

In Windows NT, administrators were introduced to the concept of domains. Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) builds on that concept by creating a dynamic, easily accessible structure through which directory and management information can be stored and accessed centrally throughout an organization. By using AD DS, you create a structure for managing your equipment and the people who use that equipment, which is a helpful feature for all but the smallest of operations. By using Active Directory as a whole, you have access to several management tools, including Group Policy (GP), the ability to put groups inside groups multiple times, and an online directory of users, computers, printers, and contacts that you can access easily through the Windows user interface. Although you certainly can’t operate a Windows-based network without Active Directory deployed.

What is Domain Controller? • A domain controller is a machine that runs Active Directory Services. • Think of it as a boss of your network. • You may have multiple domain controller that all have copies of the same active directory database

What is Domain? It is a logical group of computers that share a central directory database. The machine is all named with part of domain name like itsmeismael.com (also called a “suffix”) and registered in the active directory database so they can be managed.

Forest is comprised of all the domains in your enterprise. Your forest may only one domain.

What is Server Role? Server role is a major job that a server can perform. It’s recommended that a server not have too many roles A domain controller usually has only two roles:

a. Active directory domain services

b. Domain name services

If you are trying to create some other roles, you can use another domain controller to prevent over population of roles in a single domain controller that may cause less productivity. Domain Name Service

• It is a service provided by a server that allows you to find other computers in your network

• Allows you to type a friendly name of a machine instead of its IP address, allowing your client to get the IP address from the DNS server and go find the resources

Reference:

Setup Computer Server, Ismael Manic Balana, CBLM