Windows Server 2012 R2 Inside Out: Services, Security, & Infrastructure

Chapter 10. Active Directory architecture

Active Directory physical architecture

Active Directory logical architecture

Active Directory is an extensible directory service that enables you to manage network resources efficiently. A directory service does this by storing detailed information about each network resource, which makes it easier to provide basic lookup and authentication. Being able to store large amounts of information is a key objective of a directory service, but the information must also be organized so that it’s easily searched and retrieved.

Active Directory provides for authenticated search and retrieval of information by dividing the physical and logical structures of the directory into separate layers. Understanding the physical ...