For managing and navigating networks, directories are absolutely vital and infamously problematic. A dearth of practical standards and virtually no interoperability among most vendors' directory structures creates big headaches for system support people. But Microsoft Windows NT promises to end the pain, thanks to the new Microsoft Windows NT Directory Services (NTDS). "Understanding Active Directory Services" takes readers on a technical grand tour of this new approach. This book is for technically savvy readers, technical managers, network architects, network planners, network administrators, application developers, analysts, and designers.
Aimed at both IT managers and developers,
Understanding Active Directory Services provides an informative, high-level guide to the essential new features in Window 2000 and Active Directory Services (ADS). Besides being a resource for ADS in particular, this book also does a fine job at outlining Microsoft's larger strategy for enterprise computing in Windows 2000.
Although written with Windows 2000 in mind, this text succeeds at outlining the evolution of several common network standards (like DNS, LDAP and Kerberos) How they are supported in the new Windows. ADS is the lynchpin the new Windows 2000 network infrastructure and serves as the "glue" that allows Windows 2000 to work with other directory services. For network administrators or managers, this text is filled with tips for moving to Windows 2000 with coverage of migration wizards, ADS MMC snap-in's and other tools, as well as advice on managing ADS directories successfully.
For programmers, a useful section looks at several ADSI objects (used to program ADS in VB or C++) along with short code excerpts. Later sections zero in on security and Kerberos (for authentication) in Windows 2000. Though spun generally in favour of Microsoft's new OS, there is plenty here acknowledging today's heterogeneous network architectures (like UNIX LDAP or NFS) and how to accommodate the needs of your particular organisation. (The author also isn't afraid to mention where Windows 2000 might fall short.)
If you have any Windows NT machines in your shop and are considering a move to Windows 2000, Understanding Active Directory Services can provide a blueprint for ensuring a successful transition. Written in an admirably clear style, this book provides a solid survey of the essential standards and tools that will be vital for any IS manager, administrator or developer planning to work with Windows 2000 directories. --Richard Dragan, Amazon.com
Topics covered: Active Directory Services (ADS) overview, history of directory standards, DNS, X.500, LDAP, Microsoft DNA technology overview, ADS and Windows 2000, domains, trees and forests, client and server-side ADS, programming ADSI objects, namespaces and schemas, Windows ADS administration tools and MMC snap- ins, replication strategies and tips, Windows 2000 security overview, Kerberos, public key encryption, PKI, access control, planning strategies for ADS, migration tools, native and mixed mode Windows 2000 installations.
