"Active Directory is a Microsoft technology that provides a raft
of network services. This includes LDAP-like directory services,
Kerberos-based authentication and DNS-based machine naming.
"These items make it possible for a Windows server admin to
create a corporate domain that will extend to every user and
computer on the network.
"Each user login will authenticate against Active Directory;
every computer will be joined to the Active Directory domain. This
becomes the glue that allows users to share files, have automatic
access to file and print and other resources, for people to look
each other up within the global address list and so much more."