Active Directory is a replicated, distributed, centrally managed, directory database that is used to store, organize, locate, and authenticate users, computers, services, applications, and other resources on a network. These resources are stored in the directory database as objects and properties. Active Directory is built on top of standards for Lightweight Directory Access Protocol [LDAP] and the Domain Name System [DNS] (Microsoft Press, n.d.). Over the course of the eight years, as a contractor for Verizon, I worked on multiple projects deploying Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003, including Active Directory. The first of these projects was the ongoing maintenance and upgrade of the lab environment. After upgrading my MSCE to Windows 2000 certification levels, one of my first opportunities to apply my new knowledge of Windows and Active Directory was with the installation of a Windows 2000 Active Directory domain infrastructure in the lab. While planning for building this infrastructure in the lab, I identified the existing hardware that would meet the …show more content…
The methods vary depending on the services. One of these methods is to provide multiple domain controllers in each Wide Area Network [WAN] connected business location where users and services rely on Active Directory. By installing Active Directory servers locally, users and services in each location can authenticate locally in the event of a WAN connectivity outage, or in the event of a single server outage. While providing support for small businesses, I designed and installed Active Directory infrastructure that placed domain controllers in each office where users needed authentication services. This provided authentication services through a domain controller in either office if one were to be