Domain Controller And Active Directory Difference

In brief the domain controller runs on active directory domain service.

Domain controller and active directory difference. Domains are a hierarchical way of organizing users and computers that work together on the same network. I am very confused about this three terms. You can have multiple domain controllers for many reasons like redundancy so should one server fail people can still login in and access things like joined computers using another domain controller while the first server is being fixed. It s easiest to remember that domain controllers authenticate your authority and active directory handles your identity and security access.

Active directory is a set of service used to store information about a computer network. Active directory is like a phonebook like how a phonebook contains all details about a person and his phone number and his address active directory has details about all the c. In summary the main difference between active directory and domain controller is that active directory is a directory service developed for windows domain networks while domain controller is a server that runs on active directory domain service. A domain controller is what the server running active directory is called.

The domain controller itself usually refers to the software itself where active directory refers to the service that that software provides. Definition a directory service produced by the microsoft for the networks of windows domain is known as the active directory whereas a server that responds to the authentication security requests such as checking permissions logging in etc. Active directory is a directory service microsoft developed for windows domain networks while active directory domain services is a cornerstone of each windows domain network that stores information about members of the domain verifies their credentials and defines their access rights. Let me explain this by using simple examples so you will understand.

Thus this is the main difference between active directory and active directory domain services. Active directory is what is called a directory service it stores objects like users and computers. While attackers have all sorts of tricks to gain elevated access on networks including attacking the dc itself you can not only protect your dcs from attackers but actually use dcs to detect cyberattacks in progress. Active directory is a network administration concept that stores information and provides conditional access to it while domain is a collection of computers that work under a common name database and policies.

The domain controller keeps all of that data organized and secured. Show activity on this post. The differences between what active directory does and what a domain controller does isn t a difficult subject once you can visualize the process. Domain is at level three of active directory s hierarchical structure.

Domain controller is a server computer used to run the active directory. The domain controller dc is the box that holds the keys to the kingdom active directory ad. For the window domain is known as a domain controller.