Active Directory Database Partition:
1. Schema
Partition: (Object Classes)
Only one schema partition exists per Active Directory
forest. Schema partition is stored on all Domain Controllers within a forest.
It contains definitions of all attributes and objects t that can be produced in
the directory, and the rules for creation and manipulating them. Schema
partitions information is replicated to all domain controllers in the attribute
definitions.
· It
defines the Active Directory database for all the domains in the forest.
· Defines
all the objects in the Active Directory Database.
· Changes
to the Schema affects all domains in the forest.
· Schema
determines what can be stored in Database.
2. Configuration Partition:
This partition contains data to deal with the configuration of the forest. Site
information under sites and services is found here.
· Information
about Active Directory partitions is found here.
· Data
in this partition applies to all the forest.
· Holds
Active Directory structure sites, one partition in whole forest.
3. Domain Partition:
Many Domain partitions can exists per forest, information
about users, computers and organizational units.
· It
contains only domain data.
· Active
Directory Users and Computers data gets replicated to that domain only.
4. Application Partition:
If any application wants to store information in Application Partition, it can
create its own application partition to store information.
Example: Integrated DNS
· There
can be more than one application partition
· Replication
can be to any DC in the forest
· It
can be stored on one Domain Controller or all Domain Controller’s.
· Application
partitions store information about applications in Active Directory.
Note: If DNS (Domain Name System) is integrated with AD: Two partitions for DNS
Zones is available
-ForestDNSZones:
All
domain controllers and DNS servers in a forest receive a replica of this
partition. A forest wide application partition stores the forest zone data.
-DomainDNSZones:
Unique
for each domain
5. Global Catalog:
It contains partial replica of all objects in the forest
replicated to all Global Catalog’s in the forest. Global catalog is a
distributed repository that contains a searchable, partial copy of evening
object is every domain. This partition is stored on a DC designated as a global
catalog server role., replication topology used is multiple master replication
· It
holds read/write attribute of its local domain, but readonly for forest
domains.
· Partial
Attribute Set (PAS) Only limited set of attributes is included for
each object.
Active Directory partitions divide up the AD Database for
administration and replication accuracy.
|
PARTITIONS |
NOTES |
|
Global Catalog |
All GC's in the forest |
|
Configuration |
All DC's in the forest |
|
Application |
Specified DC's in the forest |
|
Schema |
All DC's in the forest |
Active Directory Structure
1. Logical
Structure: (Hierarchical Structure)
Contains Organization Unit (OU), Trees and Forest
2. Physical
Structure:
Sites (including Physical Internet Address subnets) and
Domain controllers.
NTDS.DIT full form: New Technology Directory
Service. Directory Information Tree
