To avoid repetition, acronyms have been used wherever possible in this book. The following is a list of acronyms, with their respective explanations, used in this book:
DC: Domain Controller (the server that acts as an authentication and directory authority within a domain).
OS: Operating System (Windows 2000 and all 2003 Server varieties).
IP Address: Internet Protocol Address. (This is the address that a computer uses to uniquely identify itself in a network.)
AD: Active Directory (Microsoft Directory Service used for authentication and domain related information).
DNS: Domain Name Service (This is a crucial service that AD relies on map IP addresses to domain names, and vice versa.)
FSMO Roles: The roles that each DC holds within a domain.
NTDSAM and NTDS NT Data Storage and Architecture: In AD, the data store contains database files and processes that store and manage directory information for users, services, and applications. Basically, this is the back-end of AD.
FRS (File Replication Services): These are services necessary to replicate AD.