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Appendix D: 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 the M3800 integrate itself with the existing ADS in an office environment.
This means the M3800 is able to recognize your office users and passwords on
the ADS server. Other major benefits ADS support provides include:
1. Easy integration of the M3800 into the existing office IT infrastructure
The M3800 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 the M3800.
2. Centralized user/password database
The M3800 does not maintain its own copy of the user/password database.
This avoids data inconsistency between the M3800 and other servers. For
example, without ADS support, an administrator might need to remove a
specific user privilege on the M3800 and each individual server. With ADS
support, the change on an ADS server is known to all of its ADS members.