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Many software applications have directory
service functionality built into their
applications. These narrowly targeted directory
services most often lack standards-based
interfaces, resulting in one network containing
multiple directories that don't work together
and have to be maintained separately. These
disparate directory services often translate
into a higher total cost of ownership, requiring
greater management and more complex
applications.
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Active DirectoryŽ service is an enterprise-class
directory service that is scalable, built using
Internet-standard technologies and delivered
with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. It is the
consolidation point for isolating, migrating,
centrally managing and reducing the number of
directories found in a network. Using it can
simplify management, strengthen security and
increase interoperability.
While not every
organization will immediately implement Active
Directory services when deploying Windows 2000
Server, the solution does offer many advantages,
including:
Manageability:
It allows your organization to
efficiently share and manage information about
network resources or users.
- It provides a single point of management for
Windows 2000 Server user accounts, clients,
servers and applications.
- It can contain over one million objects of a
business such as users, computers, printers and
application programs.
Security:
It acts as the
central authority for network security, letting
your operating system verify a user's identity
and control access one work resources.
- It can be used to extend systems securely to
the Internet.
Interoperability:
It
helps to organize and integrate systems that
aren't Windows-based and consolidates
directories for easier management of the entire
network.
- It increases the value of your existing
network and lowers the overall cost of computing
because it makes your current Windows network
more manageable, secure and interoperable.
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