Active Directory domain (AD domain) is a collection of objects within a Microsoft Active Directory network that holds a database containing object identity information. Every object in the domain, be it a user, group, hardware component, or endpoint, holds specific properties and limitations stored as attributes.

The foundation of most modern Windows-based network management systems, AD provides a suite of directory services that associate network resources with their network addresses, ensuring that information is available to the entire network. It also handles network security, such as authentication and authorization, to ensure that only valid users are allowed onto the network and that they can only access resources to which they’re entitled.

A domain is a logical grouping of objects within AD with shared administration, security, and protection behaviors. IT staff is responsible for managing objects within a domain, and an enterprise can establish numerous domains. A collection of AD domains is called a forest.

Every Active Directory domain requires a domain controller (DC). A DC is a conventional computer server that runs Active Directory Services software. A mission-critical business resource, the DC uses data stored in AD for authentication, authorization, policy administration, and group management. Domain controllers can also store a global catalog of all objects in the forest to allow global searches.

Active Directory Domains and Trusts is one of the tools for managing domains and Active Directory. Other native tools can be installed using Remote Server Administration Tools, including Active Directory Administrative Center, Active Directory Sites and Services, Active Directory Users and Computers, Active Directory Service Interfaces Edit, and Active Directory module for Windows PowerShell.

Active Directory is structured like a tree, with objects being the most granular logical unit. Objects are organized into logical groupings called organizational units (OUs) that allow administrators to better organize objects within AD. Groups are a different way of organizing objects within AD. A domain is a logical grouping of objects that can exist within a physical network, such as a corporate local area network.

Domains can be organized into trees, and trees can be organized into forests. For example, a business with multiple domains at a given site might organize those domains into a single tree for organizational purposes. A tree allows all domains to share a common schema and global catalog for better searchability. A forest is the top security boundary for AD, and no trust is established with any other forest unless that trust is explicitly created by admins of each different forest.

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is the principal service within Active Directory. AD DS stores and manages information about users, services, and other objects connected to the network, providing a central point of administration for all network activities, with the servers hosting AD DS being known as domain controllers. The suite of complementary services beyond AD DS provided within Active Directory includes Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services, Active Directory Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, Active Directory Certificate Services, Active Directory Federation Services, and Active Directory Rights Management Services.

The domain name system (DNS) lets human-readable domain names be translated to corresponding IP addresses. Admins might need to identify a server’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) while managing servers, which includes both a server name and the domain name. Windows Server users can locate the FQDN for a Windows server by opening the Start menu, typing “device name,” clicking the View Your PC Name menu, and selecting Advanced system settings.

In summary, Active Directory domain is a powerful tool that provides organizations with an easy and efficient way to manage all their network resources, including users, groups, endpoints, and hardware components, while ensuring network security. With its tree structure and suite of complementary services, Active Directory provides a central point for administration and management of all network activities.

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