Name Resolution in Active Directory

Finding information in Active Directory^™, the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 directory service, involves first locating an Active Directory server (domain controller) for logging on to a domain and then finding the information that you need in Active Directory. Both processes use name resolution. When you are locating a domain controller, the Domain Name System (DNS) resolves (by DNS name resolution) a domain name or computer name to an Internet Protocol (IP) address. During the search for information in Active Directory, Windows 2000 resolves (by Lightweight Directory Access Protocol [LDAP] name resolution) a distinguished name to a domain controller that holds the entry for that name.

In This Chapter

Locating Active Directory Servers

Finding Information in Active Directory

Related Information in the Resource Kit

For more information about DNS, Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks, subnets, and subnet masks, see the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit TCP/IP Core Networking Guide.
For information about planning and deploying of domains and domain controllers, see the Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit Deployment Planning Guide.