Appendix C: Active Directory Basics
Overview
With Windows 2000, Microsoft introduced Active Directory (ADS), which is a large
database/information store. Prior to Active Directory the Windows OS could not
store additional information in its domain database. Active Directory also solved the
problem of locating resources; which previously relied on Network Neighborhood,
and was slow. Managing users and groups were among other issues Active Directory
solved.
What is Active Directory?
Active Directory was built as a scalable, extensible directory service that was
designed to meet corporate needs. A repository for storing user information,
accounts, passwords, printers, computers, network information and other data,
Microsoft calls Active Directory a "namespace" where names can be resolved.
ADS Benefits
ADS lets Thecus IP storage integrate itself with the existing ADS in an office
environment. This means the Thecus IP storage is able to recognize your office
users and passwords on the ADS server. Other major benefits ADS support provides
include:
1. Easy integration of Thecus IP storage into the existing office IT infrastructure
The Thecus IP storage acts as a member of the ADS. This feature
significantly lowers the overhead of the system administrator. For example,
corporate security policies and user privileges on an ADS server can be
enforced automatically on Thecus IP storage.
2. Centralized user/password database
The Thecus IP storage does not maintain its own copy of the user/password
database. This avoids data inconsistency between Thecus IP storage and
other servers. For example, without ADS support, an administrator might
need to remove a specific user privilege on Thecus IP storage and each
individual server. With ADS support, the change on an ADS server is known
to all of its ADS members.
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