Active Directory NTDS.DIT Database

Active directory database called NDS.DIT (directory Information Tree). Active directory database gets installed by defaults following directory.

C:\windows\NTDS\NTDS.DIT and .DIT stands for Directory information tree. It is essential for Exchange administrators to know and understand about the structure of .DIT database since Exchange related information gets stored on Domain, Configuration and Schema partitions of active directory. Of course DNS zone Data will contain records (host records) which every host will use these records within the Active directory environment

 

.DIT Database in Active Directory 2000

Domain = Domain Partition ( RDO Resident directory Objects)   DNS Data Stored here (.DIT windows 2000 AD)

Configuration= Configuration partition Contains information about other domains Exchange organization information is held here as well as Domain, and schema partitions

Schema= Definition of objects

 

Domain Partition

(Resident directory object)

This partition stores below objects User, Groups, Computer accounts, all these are resident directory object lives in this partition.DNS data also gets stored here with windows 2000 active directory.

 

Schema Partition

Definition of an object is called schema, all domain controllers must be agree definition of an object, and this definition is replicated to all other domain controllers so all domain controllers is agree about the schema. Definition is replicated to all other Domain controllers in active directory FOREST. So all domain controllers are agree about definition of Object

 

Configuration partitions

It contains information about all other domain controllers, lets every domain controllers know existenceof other domain controllers, where they are, what are the names of those Domain controllers and so on

 

DIT Database in Active Directory 2003

Domain = Domain Partition ( RDO Resident directory Objects)

Configuration= Configuration partition Contains information about other domains Exchange organization information is held here as well as Domain, and schema partitions

Schema= Definition of objects

Application Partition Application specific data , such as DNS Zone data DNS Data Stored here (.DIT windows 2000 AD)

 

Microsoft realized the problem with .DIT partitioned database in Windows 2000. The DNS zone data information was being kept in the Domain partition of the Database. When replication occurs, this data was getting replicated to the domain controller which is not DNS servers. Therefore the problems was fixed on .DIT partitioned database on windows 2003 architecture by adding additional partition called application partition date will be stored here and this will avoid unnecessary replication.

Where Exchange recipient related information would be kept in .DIT database?

 

Best Regards

Oz