Stand-Alone Servers
A stand-alone server 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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Is not a member of a domain.
If a server is installed as a member of a workgroup, that server is a stand-alone server. Stand-alone servers can share resources with other computers on the network, but they do not receive any of the benefits provided by Active Directory.
The Active Directory service is an essential and inseparable part of the Windows Server 2003 network architecture that provides a directory service designed for distributed networking environments and the support of directory-enabled applications. It offers a single point of management for Windows-based user accounts, clients, servers, and applications. It also helps organizations integrate systems not using Windows with Windows-based applications and Windows-compatible devices, thus consolidating directories and easing management of the entire network operating system.
Companies can also use Active Directory to extend systems securely to the Internet. Active Directory thus increases the value of an organization's existing network investments and lowers the overall costs of computing by making the Windows network operating system more manageable, secure, and interoperable.
Active Directory service uses a structured data store as the basis for a logical, hierarchical organization of directory information. This data store, also known as the directory, contains information about Active Directory objects. These objects typically include shared resources such as servers, volumes, printers, and the network user and computer accounts. The directory is stored on domain controllers and can be accessed by network applications or services. A domain can have one or more domain controllers. Each domain controller has a copy of the directory for the domain in which it is located.
Security is integrated with Active Directory through logon authentication and access control to objects in the directory. With a single network logon, administrators can manage directory data and organization throughout their network. Authorized network users can access resources anywhere on the network. Policy-based administration eases the management of even the most complex network.
The Active Directory service also includes:
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Schema. Active Directory Schema is the set of definitions that defines the kinds of objects, and the types of information about those objects, that can be stored in Active Directory. The definitions are themselves stored as objects so that Active Directory can manage the schema objects with the same object management operations used for managing the rest of the objects in the directory. There are two types of definitions in the schema: attributes and classes. Attributes and classes are also referred to as schema objects or metadata.
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