Vision Infosystems (VIS)

Chapter
Topics Covered

Application Directory Partition

Introduction to application directory partition Types of directory partition Steps how to create application directory partition Steps how to create replica of application directory partition

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Windows 2003 Application directory partition

Windows Server 2003 introduces a new type of directory partition called as application directory partitions. It is a type of directory partition that can be used by applications to store applicationspecific data in active directory database. Application directory partitions can be created by applications or administrators as container objects. One or more application partitions can be hosted on domain controllers running Windows Server 2003. Active Directory objects are logically divided into sets of objects called directory partitions (also called "Naming Contexts (NC)"). Each partition exists in the same physical database but is a separate logical entity. Replication to other domain controllers is done on a per partition basis. When Active Directory is installed to create the first domain controller in a forest, the three default directory partitions (Configuration, Domain, and Schema) are created on the domain controller. A special partition called as Global Catalog partition is also created on DC which acts as global catalog.

Configuration Directory Partition

The configuration directory partition contains the configuration container, which stores configuration objects for the entire forest in cn=configuration,dc=forestRootDomain. Updates to this container are replicated to all domain controllers in the forest. Configuration objects store information about: Sites Services Directory partitions Connection objects Replication schedules Enterprise-wide server roles (such as global catalog and inter-site topology generator)

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Functionality levels of domains, forest, and domain controllers.

Schema Directory Partition

The schema directory partition contains the schema container, which stores class and attribute definitions for all existing and possible Active Directory objects in cn=schema,cn=configuration,dc=forestRootDomain. Updates to this container are replicated to all domain controllers in the forest. You can view the contents of the schema container in the Active Directory Schema console and in the ADSI Edit MMC snap-in. You must be a member of Schema Admins to use the Active Directory Schema console.

Domain Directory Partition

The domain directory partition contains a <domain> container, which stores users, computers, groups, and other objects for a specific Windows Server 2003 domain (for example, the Reskit.com domain). Updates to the <domain> container are replicated to only domain controllers within the domain and to global catalog servers if the update is made to an attribute that is marked for replication to the global catalog. The <domain> container is displayed in the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in. The hierarchy of domain directory partitions can be viewed in the Active Directory Domains and Trusts console, where trust relationships between domains can be managed.

Application Directory Partitions

Another type of directory partition is available that can be hosted on domain controllers running Windows Server 2003. In addition to the configuration, schema, and domain directory partitions, a domain controller that is running Windows Server 2003 can store one or more application directory partitions, which can be created by applications or administrators as container objects. Application directory partitions can be used by applications to store application-specific data in a scope that is smaller than the entire domain. The content of application directory partition are replicated to all the DCs configured as part of replication. The content of application directory are not replicated to Global Catalog. Currently Active Directory DNS and TAPI use application directory partitions.

Creating Application directory partitions 1. 2. 3. 4. Open a command prompt. Type: ntdsutil At the ntdsutil command prompt, type: domain management. At the domain management command prompt, type: connection.

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5. At the connection command prompt, type: connect to server ServerName. 6. At the connection command prompt, type: quit. 7. At the domain management command prompt, do one of the following To create an application directory partition, type: create nc ApplicationDirectoryPartition DomainController To delete an application directory partition, type: delete nc ApplicationDirectoryPartition Values ServerName ApplicationDirectoryPartition Description The DNS name of the domain controller on which to create or delete the application directory partition. The distinguished name of the application directory partition that you want to create or delete. For example, the distinguished name of the application directory partition test.microsoft.com is dc=test, dc=Microsoft, dc=com. The DNS name of the domain controller on which to create or delete the application directory partition. Or, type NULL to create the application directory partition on the domain controller to which you are currently connected. The value for the DomainController parameter of the create nc command must either be the DNS name of a domain controller or, if you are creating the application directory partition on the domain controller to which you are currently connected, use the NULL variable.

DomainController

To create or delete replica of application partition 1. Open a command prompt. 2. Type: ntdsutil 3. At the ntdsutil command prompt, type: domain management. 4. At the domain management command prompt, type: connection. 5. At the connection command prompt, type: connect to server DomainController 6. At the connection command prompt, type: quit. 7. At the domain management command prompt, do one of the following: To add an application directory partition replica, type: add nc ApplicationDirectoryPartition DomainController To remove an application directory partition replica, type: remove nc ApplicationDirectoryPartition Value DomainController Description

replica replica

The DNS name of the domain controller on which to add or remove the replica of the application directory partition.

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ApplicationDirectoryPartition

The distinguished name for the application directory partition of which you want to add or remove a replica. For example, the distinguished name of the application directory partition test.microsoft.com is dc=test, dc=microsoft, dc=com. The value NULL can be used for the DomainController parameter of the add nc replica and remove nc replica commands if you are adding or removing the application directory partition replica on the domain controller to which you are currently connected.

To display application directory partition information 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Open a command prompt. Type: ntdsutil At the ntdsutil command prompt, type: domain management. At the domain management command prompt, type: connection. At the connection command prompt, type: connect to server DomainController At the connection command prompt, type: quit. At the domain management command prompt, type: list.

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