OBTAIN AN IP ADDRESS BY USING DHCPBEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS EXERCISE, YOU...

2. What would be your first troubleshooting step? What should you do if that first

step does not work?

You should type ipconfig /renew at the command prompt to force the computer to attempt torenew its lease with an available DHCP server. If the command is successful and the computerobtains a valid IP address, you have solved the problem. If the computer cannot obtain a validIP address, you should first verify that the DHCP server is working. (It is likely that the DHCP isworking because other users on the network can access the network.) If DHCP is functioningproperly, you should check to make sure that the network cable is connected to the networkadapter and that the network adapter is functioning properly.

14 Overview of Active

Directory Service

Exam Objectives in this Chapter:

■

This chapter does not cover any specific exam objectives. It is intended to intro-

duce you to Active Directory directory service.

Why This Chapter Matters

A directory service uniquely defines users and resources on a network. Directory

services based on Active Directory technology in Microsoft Windows 2000

Server or Windows Server 2003 provide a single point of network management,

allowing you to add, remove, and relocate users and resources easily. This chap-

ter introduces you to the Active Directory directory service.

Lessons in this Chapter:

■

Lesson 1: Overview of Active Directory . . . 14-2

■

Lesson 2: Important Active Directory Concepts . . . 14-14

Note Active Directory is not a service that you can run on a computer running Windows XP Professional. Active Directory runs on a computer running Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 that is part of a domain. After the Active Directory service is installed on a server, that server becomes a domain controller. Computers running Windows XP Profes-sional can become members of the domain.

Before You Begin

To complete this chapter, you must have a computer that meets the minimum hard-

ware requirements listed in the preface, “About This Book.” You must also have Win-

dows XP Professional installed on your computer. You do not need access to an Active

Directory domain in order to complete this chapter.