You use a directory service to uniquely identify users and resources on a network. Directory services based on Active Directory technology in Microsoft Windows 2000 is a significant enhancement over the directory services provided in previous versions of Windows 2000. Active Directory directory services provide a single point of network management, allowing you to add, remove, and relocate users and resources easily. This chapter introduces you to Active Directory directory services, a feature available with the Windows 2000 Server products.
NOTEActive Directory directory services are not available in Windows 2000 Professional. You must have a computer running one of the Windows 2000 Server products configured as a domain controller to use Microsoft's Active Directory directory services.
To complete this chapter, you must have
A computer that meets the minimum hardware requirements listed in "Hardware Requirements."
Windows 2000 Professional installed on the computer.