SummaryThis article explains how domain management evolved from Windows NT 4.0 to Active Directory. It also provides an in-depth overview of all the benefits of Active Directory over Windows NT 4.0. The benefits of using Active Directory are divided into categories, including improvements in scalability, organization, and replication. This document also shows how users are managed in an Active Directory environment as opposed to local users. Active Directory is a very useful tool created by Microsoft to facilitate the creation and maintenance of the server/client relationship on Windows systems. Wikipedia describes Active Directory with the definition: Active Directory is an implementation of Microsoft's Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory services intended for use primarily in Windows environments. Its main purpose is to provide central authentication and authorization services for Windows computers. Active Directory also allows administrators to assign policies, deploy software, and apply critical updates to an organization. Active Directory stores information and settings in a central database. Active Directory networks can range from a small installation with a few hundred objects to a large installation with millions of objects. This basically means that Active Directory was designed to organize and manage a domain network by providing structure and giving the administrator the capabilities to assign permission to help protect the network and also allow users to use special resources assigned to them by the administrator. Before Active Directory, there was Windows NT 4.0 which needed a lot of improvement. It was limited to 40,000 objects and even before that limit was reached...... middle of paper ......: February 13, 24, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w /index.php?title=Active_Directory&oldid=193716850Active Directory schema. (November 1, 2007). In the Microsoft Developer Network. Retrieved at 05:13 on February 24, 2008 from http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms675085.aspxDulaney, Emmett. Active Directory: an overview. (1999, June). Under Windows IT Pro. Retrieved at 05:13, February 24, 2008, from http://www.windowsitlibrary.com/Content/155/07/1.html Huh, Gary. Active Directory: How does it measure up?. (2000, November 1). In the Novel Tech Center. Retrieved at 05:13 on February 24, 2008 from http://support.novell.com/techcenter/articles/nc2000_11b.htmlPetri, Daniel. Understand the Active Directory schema. (February 24, 2008). In Petri, computer knowledge base. Retrieved at 05:13 on February 24, 2008 from http://www.petri.co.il/understanding_active_directory_schema.htm