Active Directory Console Overview

In this lesson, I am going to be giving you an introduction to the Active Directory console.

Now, I am logged into my Domain Controller here, and I just want to start by clarifying that you can tell if you are on a Domain Controller by the inside of Server Manager , looking for the AD DS or Active Directory Domain Services role.

AD DS in Server Manager

Now, there are other ways to start Active Directory, but what we are going to do is start it from within Server Manager.

Again, if you don't have Server Manager up you can click the Start button here, and just select Server Manager.

Start button Server Manager

You can also search for Active Directory here, and if you are not able to log directly into the Domain Controller you can install tools like RSAT or the Remote Server Administration Toolset , and you can download and install the Active Directory console and connect remotely to your Active Directory Domain Controller.

Download RSAT Tools

Now, once you have Server Manager open what we are going to do is select Tools in the top right-hand corner of the screen and we are going to select Active Directory Users and Computers. Nine times out of ten when somebody says, hey I need you to open Active Directory this is what they are talking about.

Start Active Directory Users and Computers

Now, you'll notice that there are more Active Directory consoles here like Active Directory Administrative Center, Domains and Trusts, Sit…