Special Edition Using Microsoft Active Directory

Database Files

The database files for Active Directory are the real meat behind AD. As an administrator, you are abstracted from the Active Directory database during normal operation. However, like any database, the AD database can require direct, file-level care and feeding.

A good knowledge of the architecture of the database makes caring for it much easier and more effective. It also enables performance-tuning the database by allowing the administrator to know which files to place on what kind of drive subsystem.

Knowing which files are crucial to the proper performance of Active Directory also enables planning for fault tolerance. Although simply creating multiple domain controllers per domain implies some fault tolerance, you also can place ...