MCSE Test 70-217 Windows 2000 Directory Services Administration - Just an Generalization of the Course - Computers

MCSE
Windows 2000 Directory Services Administration 70-217

The main objectives of this exam is:

Creating a Windows 2000 Active Directory Domain (which means hands on with Active Directory)

Installing and configuring objects within the Active Directory

Monitoring and managing various aspects of the Active Directory

Troubleshooting

Exploring new features of Active Directory, like security, DNS implementation, Group Policies and Remote Installations.

Working with the Active Directory in distributed network environments

The first thing we look at here is the benifits of Active Directory. This new Hierachial Organization tool isn't a new creation it has been seen before but its first in a NT environment. It gives Windows 2000 an extra edge over any other software out there since it is so robust. Active Directory features:

Extensible Schema
Which is a big concern with any kind of database

Centralized Data Storage
Which gives a company the tools to let them easily access the information they need from wherever they may be within the company

Replication
Which gives the Administrators a break since it automatically replicate information within different servers

Ease of Administration
Which gives an administrator a centralized map of the whole company or enterprise

Network Security
Since Active Directory is based on authentication only authorized information or permissions can be attached

Client Configuration Management
This allow for greatly enhanced control and administration of mintaining a network of heterogeneous systems and applications.

Scalability and Performance
Active Directory was designed with expandibility to the farthest extent which not only gives it the peace of mind for a company but also the peace of mind that their company is running with ease.

Searching Functionality
Active Directory can quickly find information about other users or resources, such as printers and servers, through an intuitive querying interface.

An Active Directory goes like this, a domain into a Organiztional Unit into Object Names and then into Users, computers, (printers) and Group Objects.

In a domain a server's role can be fairly complicated but with Active Directory they are as simple as watching TV; they are domain controllers, Member servers, Stand-Alone Servers into Schmea Masters, Domain Naming Masters, Relative ID Masters, Primary Domain Controller Emulators and Infrastrucuture Masters.

Now we are back to DNS which is kind of dumb since we knew DNS pretty well in 70-216 so we will skip that but you got to remember that Active Directory is built on DNS without it Active Directory is another piece of fluff. (And samething as DHCP).

Active Directory comes automatically when you promote your member server to a Domain Controller through DCPROMO. Another big thing of Active Directory is its Group Policies and how you organize your OUs and Objects within OUs to be able to make a Group Policy efficient to use..

Organization Units is very important to a business because it is the fundamental base or foundation to your hierarchical map or Active Directory. OUs can be split up into Users, Groups, Printers and Shared Folders. They allow system administrators to create strucutres that reflect their internal business environment. The can use OUs to manage resources, delegate administration, plan group policies, and using it based on geographic location.

In conclusion I have to say that this test is very hard and requires a lot of hands on experience and actually playing around with sites, OUs, group policies, remote installations and using Domain Controllers. But in the end after all the hard work it is worth it. Also I love Active Directory it is the coolest little toy to play around with and it is so robust and expandible.

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Page Updated Wed Jun 6, 2001 5:25pm EDT