Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory–ADAC

TIn the last in my “What’s new in active directory in Windows Server 2008 R2” mini series I wanted to introduce the Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC). This is a simple deployable client to enable users who have limited experience of active directory to carry out routine tasks like adding users and resetting passwords.  It’s particularly useful if privileges to do these simple tasks have been delegated to users perhaps in a regional or branch office. I have short screencast on how this works..

You get ADAC on the domain controller, but what you really need is for users to run it on their desktops and to do that you need to deploy the Remote Server Administration Tools  (RSAT) which you get from here.  This is a windows update which changes the optional windows features you can use, and so if you go into windows features after installing RSAT you will now get this big list..

..from which you can select ADAC and the AD DS Snap-in and command line tools it depends on.

I have to confess I often use this tool as it’s quicker for me but then I don’t claim to be a deep Active Directory expert,  so if you are a part time domain administrator like me then you might want to fire it up.