Active Directory

Originally known as NTDS, AD (Active Directory) is a service that is stored in the NTDS.DIT file. It provides a simplified query for administrators and users to manage resources, sites, services, and users on a network. It was first provided in Microsoft Windows 2000 (although was shown in 1999 on Windows NT). The Active Directory feature is often managed and controlled through the MMC (Microsoft Management Console).

AD, BDC, Computer acronyms, Domain tree, GPO, Group policy, LDAP, Network terms, PDC, X.500