MCTS Windows Server® 2008 Active Directory Configuration: Study Guide

1.3. Understanding Active Directory's Logical Structure

Database professionals often use the term schema to describe the structure of data. A schema usually defines the types of information that can be stored within a certain repository and special rules on how the information is to be organized. A schema can be manipulated with the right tools, such as ADSI, mentioned earlier in the chapter. Within a relational database or Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, for example, we might define tables with columns and rows. Similarly, the Active Directory schema specifies the types of information that are stored within a directory.

The schema itself also describes the structure of the information stored within the Active Directory data store. The Active Directory ...