Active Directory For Dummies

Your guide to learning Active Directory the quick and easy way Whether you're new to Active Directory (AD) or a savvy system administrator looking to brush up on your skills, Active Directory for Dummies will steer you in the right direction. Since its original release, Microsoft's implementation of the lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) for the Windows Server line of networking software has become one of the most popular directory service products in the world. If you're involved with the design and support of Microsoft directory services and/or solutions, you're in the right place. This comprehensive guide starts by showing you the basics of AD, so you can utilize its structures to simplify your life and secure your digital environment. From there, you'll discover how to exert fine-grained control over groups, assets, security, permissions, and policies on a Windows network and efficiently configure, manage, and update the network. With coverage of security improvements, significant user interface changes, and updates to the AD scripting engine, password policies, accidental object deletion protection, and more, this plain-English book has everything you need to know. You'll learn how to: Navigate the functions and structures of AD Understand business and technical requirements to determine goals Become familiar with physical components like site links, network services, and site topology Manage and monitor new features, AD replication, and schema management Maintain AD databases Avoid common AD mistakes that can undermine network security With chapters on the ten most important points about AD design, ten online resources, and ten troubleshooting tips, this user-friendly book really is your one-stop guide to setting up, working with, and making the most of Active Directory. Get your copy of Active Directory For Dummies and get to work.

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started 5 Chapter 1: Understanding Active Directory 7 Chapter 2: Analyzing Requirements for Active Directory 23 Chapter 3: Designing an Active Directory Implementation Plan 41 Part II: Planning and Deploying with Active Directory Domain Services 53 Chapter 4: Playing the Name Game 55 Chapter 5: Creating a Logical Structure 71 Chapter 6: Getting Physical 83 Chapter 7: Ready to Deploy! 103 Part III: New Active Directory Features 127 Chapter 8: AD LDS: Active Directory on a Diet 129 Chapter 9: Federating Active Directory 141 Chapter 10: AD Certificate Services and Rights Management Services 157 Part IV: Managing Active Directory 173 Chapter 11: Managing Users, Groups, and Other Objects 175 Chapter 12: Managing Active Directory Replication 203 Chapter 13: Schema-ing! 219 Chapter 14: Managing Security with Active Directory Domain Services 233 Chapter 15: Maintaining Active Directory 253 Part V: The Part of Tens 271 Chapter 16: The Ten Most Important Active Directory Design Points 273 Chapter 17: Ten Cool Web Sites for Active Directory Info 279 Chapter 18: Ten Troubleshooting Tips for Active Directory 285 Part VI: Appendixes 291 Appendix A: Windows 2008 AD Command Line Tools 293 Appendix B: Glossary 305 Index 315