Active Directory

Mp4

Mp4

Mp4

Soldato
Joined
21 Apr 2006
Posts
8,460
Location
Eastbourne
Hi all,
What is the easiest way to learn Active Directory? I’ve never had to use it & wouldn’t know where to begin.
 
Simplest way I found to get to grips with the basics, was to set up a server environment for me to "play" with. Granted this was originally back when Server 2000 was still at the top of the pile, but the point still stands.

Get a copy of the server software, and just "go nuts".

But you'll want to know active directory users & computers, active directory sites and services, group policy, active directory domains & trusts, and possibly Routing and Remote Access.

This all assumes that you know how to configure DNS and DCHP though :)
 
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Okay , the problem is i dont have another computer to play on so cant setup a server enviroment

Windows 2003 server is the newest (ish) os?
 
If you don't have another computer to test, its gonna be very hard to learn.
Is this for work or personal study? if work, make them give you a test bed. If at home, get a 2nd hdd and multi-boot. Having a test bed is the best way to learn.
Screwing around with AD on a live domain is like placing your knackers on a railway line during rush hour!
*raises hand* Got first hand experience of all those trials and tribulations.
I started my job as I.T. Manager 2 and a half years ago running a domain with 5 servers and approx. 50 clients. I've had no formal training at all. I scoured the net, spoke to others, and did trial and error testing to accumulate the knowledge i have now. I'm studying my A+ and MSCA/E right now, but its not even touched AD yet.
I probably know less than 50% of AD, but i manage to keep our system running ok.

To repeat; its hard without a testserver setup.
 
You don't need another PC if money is a concern. Although it would be ideal you could get leaning by using something like VMware or Virtual PC which allows you to basically run another operating system inside a window.
 
VMware Server is the best free product :)

Will run on XP fine.

By the way, the "latest" Server OS is now server 2008, but you are more likely to encounter server 2003 in the workplace.
 
VMWare player cannot be used to create Virtual Machines (well it can, but not on its own, and certainly not without messing around). VMWare server is much nicer to control VM's with :)

The first link you posted is correct :)
 
^ thanks , so i get wmware server installed then install server2003? soz for the noob questions :D all new to me
 
Yep, you get VMWare server installed on your PC, then you get the (blatantly obvious :p) option of creating a new VM. It will ask you some basic questions like which OS, size of HDD, how much RAM etc you are giving the VM.

Then it will boot as per a normal PC. You then have to tell the VM that you either want to use your actual PC's CD-ROM drive, or an ISO image, which you can then boot off to install server 2003 as if it was just a normal machine :)
 
You can have as many Virtual Machines as you like (although depending on the host system specs, you might not get away with running more than one or two at the same time). So you can of course have a VM with Linux on it, and a VM with Server 2003 on it :)

I wouldn't do a multiboot within a VM however.
 
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