Appendix C: Active Directory Basics - Thecus N2520 series User Manual

Appendix C: Active Directory Basics

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• Overview
With Windows 2000, Microsoft introduced Active Directory (ADS), which is a large database/
information store. Prior to Active Directory the Windows OS could not store additional information
in its domain database. Active Directory also solved the problem of locating resources; which
previously relied on Network Neighborhood, and was slow. Managing users and groups were among
other issues Active Directory solved.
• What is Active Directory?
Active Directory was built as a scalable, extensible directory service that was designed to meet
corporate needs. A repository for storing user information, accounts, passwords, printers, computers,
network information and other data, Microsoft calls Active Directory a "namespace" where names
can be resolved.
ADS Benefits
ADS lets Thecus IP storage integrate itself with the existing ADS in an office environment. This means
the Thecus IP storage is able to recognize your office users and passwords on the ADS server. Other
major benefits ADS support provides include:
1. Easy integration of Thecus IP storage into the existing office IT infrastructure
The Thecus IP storage acts as a member of the ADS. This feature signifi cantly lowers the over- Thecus IP storage acts as a member of the ADS. This feature signifi cantly lowers the over-
head of the system administrator. For example, corporate security policies and user privileges
on an ADS server can be enforced automatically on Thecus IP storage.
2. Centralized user/password database
The Thecus IP storage does not maintain its own copy of the user/password database. This
avoids data inconsistency between Thecus IP storage and other servers. For example, without
ADS support, an administrator might need to remove a specific user privilege on Thecus IP
storage and each individual server. With ADS support, the change on an ADS server is known
to all of its ADS members.
acts as a member of the ADS. This feature significantly lowers the over-
Appendix C: Active Directory Basics 117