A domain controller is a computer that:
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Runs Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, or a Windows Server 2003 operating system.
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Stores a read-write copy of the domain database.
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Participates in multimaster replication.
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Authenticates users.
Domain controllers store directory data and manage communication between users and domains, including user logon processes, authentication, and directory searches. Domain controllers synchronize directory data using multimaster replication, ensuring consistency of information over time.
Active Directory supports multimaster replication of directory data between all domain controllers in a domain. In an Active Directory forest, there are at least five different operations master roles that are assigned to one or more domain controllers.
As the needs of your computing environment change, you might want to change the role of a server. Using the Active Directory Installation Wizard, you can promote a member server to a domain controller, or you can demote a domain controller to a member server.
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