The Windows 2000 directory services are an essential part of the Windows 2000 network architecture, and are specifically designed for distributed networking environments. With Active Directory and Microsoft Metadirectory Services, organizations can efficiently share and manage information about network resources and users. Active Directory acts as the central authority for network security, letting the operating system readily verify a user's identity and control his or her access to network resources. Equally important, Active Directory acts as an integration point for bringing systems together and consolidating management tasks. In addition, Metadirectory Services allow Active Directory to manage identity information that applications and network services store in places other than in a directory, while synchronization services allow Active Directory to share information with other directory services.
Learn more about Windows 2000 directory services, and find out how Active Directory and Microsoft Metadirectory Services allow the enterprise to centrally manage information about users, applications, and devices.
