Thecus 1U4500S Leaflet

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Appendix D: Active Directory Basics 
Overview 
With Windows 2000, Microsoft introduced Active Directory (ADS), which is a large 
database/information store. Prior to Active Directory the Windows OS could not 
store additional information in its domain database. Active Directory also solved 
the problem of locating resources; which previously relied on Network 
Neighborhood, and was slow. Managing users and groups were among other 
issues Active Directory solved. 
What is Active Directory? 
Active Directory was built as a scalable, extensible directory service that was 
designed to meet corporate needs. A repository for storing user information, 
accounts, passwords, printers, computers, network information and other data, 
Microsoft calls Active Directory a "namespace" where names can be resolved. 
ADS Benefits 
ADS lets the 1U4500 integrate itself with the existing ADS in an office 
environment. This means the 1U4500 is able to recognize your office users and 
passwords on the ADS server. Other major benefits ADS support provides include: 
 
1.  Easy integration of the 1U4500 into the existing office IT infrastructure 
 
The 1U4500 acts as a member of the ADS. This feature significantly lowers 
the overhead of the system administrator. For example, corporate security 
policies and user privileges on an ADS server can be enforced 
automatically on the 1U4500. 
 
2.  Centralized user/password database 
 
The 1U4500 does not maintain its own copy of the user/password 
database. This avoids data inconsistency between the 1U4500 and other 
servers. For example, without ADS support, an administrator might need 
to remove a specific user privilege on the 1U4500 and each individual 
server. With ADS support, the change on an ADS server is known to all of 
its ADS members.