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What is the full form AD?

Full form of AD: Here, we are going to learn what does AD stands for? AD – which is an abbreviation of "Active Directory" in Computer Acronyms/Abbreviations, etc.
Submitted by Anushree Goswami, on March 19, 2020

AD: Active Directory

AD is an abbreviation of Active Directory (AD).

It is a service of directory built up and expanded by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is comprised of the majority of Windows Server operating systems as an order of sequence of courses of actions and services. In the beginning, Active Directory was only having the responsibility of centralized domain management. Initiating with Windows Server 2008, on the other hand, Active Directory turned out to be an umbrella title for an extensive range of directory-based identity-associated services.

• A server administering and controlling Active Directory Domain Service (AD DS) is called a domain controller.
• Domain controller validates, confirms and gives permission to all the users or clients and computers in a Windows domain type network—allocating and putting into effect security policies for all computers and installing or updating software.
  For example, when a client logs into a computer that is a division of a Windows domain, Active Directory makes sure and confirms the presented password and decides whether the client is a system supervisor or regular user. Furthermore, it enables management and storage of information, makes available validation, verification, and permission-based mechanisms, and sets ups a parameter to organize and arrange additional associated services.
• Active Directory Services consist of multiple directory services, which comprise:
  1. Domain Services:
     Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is the foundation stone of each Windows domain network.
  2. Certificate Services:
     Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) setups and begins an on-premises public key infrastructure.
  3. Active Directory Federation Services:
     Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) is a distinct sign-on service.
  4. Lightweight Directory Services:
     Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS), previously known as Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM), is a light-weight execution of AD DS.
  5. Rights Management Services:
     Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS, known as Rights Management Services or RMS before Windows Server 2008) is a server software for information rights management dispatched with Windows Server.
• Active Directory makes use of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) versions 2 and 3, Microsoft's version of Kerberos, and DNS.

Active Directory Management Tools

Microsoft Active Directory management tools comprise:

• Active Directory Administrative Center (launched with Windows Server 2012 and over),
• Active Directory Users and Computers,
• Active Directory Domains and Trusts,
• Active Directory Sites and Services,
• ADSI Edit,
• Local Users and Groups,
• Active Directory Schema snap-ins for Microsoft Management Console (MMC), SysInternals ADExplorer