In this replication scenario, multiple read/write copies of the database exist simultaneously. One or more Win2K domain controllers host AD, which the domain controllers replicate in a multimaster fashion to ensure increased availability of the directory and the network. As a result, AD represents the first foray into the world of directories and directory management for many organizations and network administrators.
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Although plenty of alternative directory products have been on the market for some time (e.g., Banyan's StreetTalk and Novell's NDS), many Microsoft- and Windows NT-centric organizations have chosen to wait and use AD as the foundation for their enterprise networks. With AD, Microsoft has finally delivered a directory that can support large and multisite networks. In most cases, AD is the compelling feature that is driving enterprise customers toward migrating to Win2K. Thus, a considerable portion of a network administrator's monitoring efforts needs to be focused on AD and its subcomponents. Moving crucial information from a distributed model to one that is highly centralized considerably reduces a network's tolerance for downtime and problems and increases the risk of loss as a result of downtime. This consolidation improves organizational efficiency and significantly reduces a network's total cost of ownership (TCO).Īlthough data centralization and consolidation is a key benefit of directory services, this functionality also represents one of directory services' greatest potential weaknesses. Over time, organizations can use a central directory, such as AD, to consolidate the majority of their crucial data into one shared network resource.
Why is a directory essential? A directory provides a central repository for all of an enterprise network's crucial data, including information about user accounts, computers, printers, applications (e.g., an HR database), security, and system configuration policy. Some applications, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), human resources (HR), and email systems (e.g., Microsoft Exchange Server) provide directories for storing data specific to their functionality. OS directories, such as Microsoft's AD and Novell's Novell Directory Services (NDS), are general-purpose directories that vendors include with a network OS and design to be multipurpose directories that a variety of users, applications, and devices can access. Directory services come in various types and from different sources. These objects include traditional network resources such as user and machine accounts, shared network resources such as shared directories and printers, and resources such as network applications, services, and security policies.ĭirectory service is a composite term that includes the directory data store as well as the services that make the information within the directory available to users and applications. In a hierarchical structure that makes the information easier to understand and access, a directory (aka a data store) maintains data about objects within a known framework or environment such as a network. To properly maintain your Win2K infrastructure, IT shops' network administrators need specific knowledge about which components you need to monitor as well as which full-featured Win2K-aware monitoring tool is right for your organization.īefore delving into the specifics of AD, let's review the general terms and concepts related to directory-enabled networks. Failure to do so can result in severe, networkwide problems, including slow or failed user logon authorizations, inconsistent data across AD servers, the inability to access crucial applications, and printing problems. Thus, network administrators must be able to guarantee not only these components' general availability but also an acceptable performance baseline.
Win2K and Win2K-centric applications rely heavily on these services and components for proper network operation. These new elements, which collectively make up Win2K's core infrastructure, include Active Directory (AD) databases and services, DNS servers, the Global Catalog (GC), and Operation Masters. However, Win2K introduces additional components, services, and dependencies that you must also monitor regularly. As with any computer network, monitoring crucial statistics such as server CPU, memory and disk utilization, and network connectivity statistics is imperative. To effectively support Win2K networks and maintain the same levels of network availability that your previous Windows networks provided, you must perform network-management activities beyond the steps you've taken with earlier Windows versions. Maintaining network availability in Windows 2000 is an entirely new ball game for network administrators. Tools and techniques to ensure network availability
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