Active Directory FAQ

What is Active Directory?

Generally speaking, Active Directory is a centralized directory service for Windows PCs allowing for central management of authentication and policy enforcement. It is a part of Microsoft operating systems running on several of the University’s servers as well as enrolled desktops.

What are the benefits of Active Directory to CBS?

There are many benefits, both to end users and administrators:

• Logons will be standardized. This means you will use your Internet (X.500) username/password to log in to your PC.
• Resources can be more easily shared. Once you are logged in, you will automatically be given disk space on a server (backed up!) and local printers.
• Management of PCs will be easier. An Active Directory allows us to ensure that updates are being applied properly, time is synchronized, network drives are mapped, etc.

How are we implementing it?

CBS IT staff will need to visit each PC and migrate it into the Active Directory. This process should not take more than 30 minutes per PC.

During migration, user profiles will be moved over to the Active Directory and users will be placed in the “Power Users” group.

Who is implementing it?

OIT manages the Active Directory servers and CBS IT admins the OU (our part of the tree). Users should continue to contact the CBS help-desk with problems relating to PC logins.

Where can I find more information?

OIT has a very good online orientation to Active Directory.

How do I connect to an Active Directory Share?

Instructions to connect to an Active Directory Share