what is active directory??

someone was asking me about Active Directory but i have no idea what it is.... and would like to know... i assume it has something to do with the way users directries are dealt with on a network but...

any advice on what to read or a brief explainaition would be great...

thanks

RF

It's kind of really difficult to explain - http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=de...ctive+Directory gives some nice definitions

A server with Active directory is running Windows 2000 or 2003 server. You can centrally administer all users, computers, printers etc. and it is easy to configure permissions/restrictions. You can connect lots of computers all to the active directory, which means that management between them is very easy. You can use tools like group policy to apply restrictions to users, and you can have central profiles, so that you can logon to any computer and still have all your settings/documents. It can obviously get more complex, but that's a starting point.

Perhaps someone else could do better...

thats a gret explainaition for me !! thanks

the question i was asked is...

Q-- would it be a problem to have one or more people allowed priviladges to change users passwords on a network system that has active directories set up?

im guessing no but....could you confirm this please..

thanks

RF

u can set up remote administration so that wherever u are u can still control the central server

In an active directory, administrators can change the passwords of users. As long as you are an admin, you can do this easily. Therefore, it's no problem to setup as many admins as you want and then can all change users passwords.

ok thanks....not sure why my friends sys admin said it woul dbe a prob to have another person controling passwords...strange...maybe a control freak!!

thanks

RF

Hehe - a control freak... I know a few of them

Just make them an admin and it'd be fine.