Description:
For many years, the closest many organizations came to deploying a directory service was using the Internet-standard Domain Name System (DNS). Some companies adopted Banyan's StreetTalk years ago, or pursued another X.500 solution. In recent years, administrators deployed Novell's Directory Service (NDS) as a corporate directory, but many have anticipated the release of Microsoft Active Directory, which shipped with Windows 2000 Server. Managing Active Directory for Windows 2000 Server aims to help system administrators and system engineers navigate the potentially difficult path to implementing Active Directory. Managing Active Directory is most helpful for readers familiar with the basics of network design and Windows 2000 (or Windows NT). The book pays great attention to how network topology affects the implementation of Active Directory on a network, and vice versa. The text underscores the importance of proper planning before rolling out an enterprise-wide directory, since some design changes are difficult to make once implementation is complete. Readers would benefit from a working knowledge of DNS, LDAP, and various Internet naming conventions when reading these discussions. At times the organization of the book is confusing. "Fast-track" information isn't provided until chapter 12--a subject many savvy readers would find helpful closer to the beginning. In addition, the book introduces some concepts out of order; for example, it covers a number of explicit configuration options before it explains installation. The best features of this book are the summaries and FAQs that conclude each chapter. These features consolidate the most important information, reiterate how the various directory acronyms and nomenclature (OUs, GCs, DCs, forests, trees, and schema) fit together, and prepare the reader for the next chapter. This book should help administrators evaluate how Microsoft Active Directory fits into their organization's network. --Pete Ostenson
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