Summary of Active Directory Architecture

To determine the cause of an Active Directory problem accurately, you need to understand its architecture and the relationship of Active Directory to other network services and protocols. Active Directory is a database that not only stores information and resources but also extends the features of previous Microsoft® Windows–based directory services and adds new features. These new features make it easier to navigate and manage large amounts of information, which can generate savings for both administrators and end users. However, these features also increase the depth and complexity of the underlying architecture. So, to establish a starting point for Active Directory diagnostics and troubleshooting, it might be useful to briefly review how the system is structured., The following is a summary of Active Directory architecture and the protocols and services that interact with Active Directory. For more information about Active Directory architecture, see "Active Directory Data Storage" in this book.