Organize your network resources by learning how to design, manage, and maintain Active Directory. Updated to cover Windows Server 2012, the fifth edition of this bestselling book gives you a thorough grounding in Microsoft's network directory service by explaining concepts in an easy-to-understand, narrative style.

You'll negotiate a maze of technologies for deploying a scalable and reliable AD infrastructure, with new chapters on management tools, searching the AD database, authentication and security protocols, and Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS). This book provides real-world scenarios that let you apply what you've learned--ideal whether you're a network administrator for a small business or a multinational enterprise.Upgrade Active Directory to Windows Server 2012Learn the fundamentals, including how AD stores objectsUse the AD Administrative Center and other management toolsLearn to administer AD with Windows PowerShellSearch and gather AD data, using the LDAP query syntaxUnderstand how Group Policy functionsDesign a new Active Directory forestExamine the Kerberos security protocolGet a detailed look at the AD replication process

Working with Microsoft's network directory service for the first time can be a headache for system and network administrators, IT professionals, technical project managers, and programmers alike. This authoritative guide is meant to relieve that pain. Instead of going through the graphical user interface screen by screen, O'Reilly's bestselling "Active Directory" tells you how to design, manage, and maintain a small, medium, or enterprise Active Directory infrastructure.

Fully updated to cover Active Directory for Windows Server 2003 SP1 and R2, this third edition is full of important updates and corrections. It's perfect for all Active Directory administrators, whether you manage a single server or a global multinational with thousands of servers.

"Active Directory, 3rd Edition" is divided into three parts. Part I introduces much of how Active Directory works, giving you a thorough grounding in its concepts. Some of the topics include Active Directory replication, the schema, application partitions, group policies, and interaction with DNS. Part II details the issues around properly designing the directory infrastructure. Topics include designing the namespace, creating a site topology, designing group policies for locking down client settings, auditing, permissions, backup and recovery, and a look at Microsoft's future direction with Directory Services. Part III covers how to create and manipulate users, groups, printers, and other objects that you may need in your everyday management of Active Directory.

If you want a book that lays bare the design and management of an enterprise or departmental Active Directory, then look no further. "Active Directory, 3rdEdition" will quickly earn its place among the books you don't want to be without.