Hi Everyone,

Quite often we’re asked by customers new to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) for links to useful resources and online learning materials.

So we’ve put together a Ramp Up guide, to help you get started with AD DS.

We hope that you find this guide useful.

Peter & Andy (Premier Field Engineers for Microsoft Premier Support UK)

Product Overview

• Active Directory Domain Services Overview

Documentation

• Active Directory Domain Services Operations Guide
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Technical Documentation            

Evaluation     

• Windows Server 2008 R2 Editions Overview
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Upgrade Paths
• Download Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1
• Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 Evaluation Resources

Articles

• What's New in Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2008
• What's New in Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2008 R2
• Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2003 with SP1 to Windows Server 2008
• Changes in Functionality from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2

Installing and Configuring Active Directory Domain Services

Documentation

• AD DS Installation and Removal
• Active Directory Domain Services Installed Help

Design

• Active Directory Architecture
• Best Practice Active Directory Design for Managing Windows Networks
• Achieving Autonomy and Isolation with Forests, Domains, and Organizational Units

Managing Active Directory Domain Services

• Active Directory Administrative Center: Getting Started
• Server Manager
• Using Active Directory Service
• Step-by-Step Guide to Managing the Active Directory
• Active Directory Users, Computers, and Groups
• Domain and Forest Trusts Technical Reference

Technologies

• Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
• Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
• Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
• Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS)
• Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS)
• DNS Server
• Read-Only Domain Controllers
• Global Catalog Technical Reference
• Operations Masters Technical Reference
• Hyper-V
• AD DS Backup and Recovery
• AD DS Auditing
• AD DS Fine-Grained Password and Account Lockout Policy
• Introduction to Administering DFS-Replicated SYSVOL
• Introduction to Administering the Windows Time Service
• Kerberos Explained
• Managing Trusts
• How Operations Masters Work
• Administering Group Policy with GPMC
• Active Directory and ADDS Port Requirements
• Active Directory Replication over Firewalls

Active Directory Replication

• How the Active Directory Replication Model Works
• Active Directory Replication Technologies
• Active Directory Replication Tools and Settings
• Active Directory Replication Traffic
• The Role of the Inter-Site Topology Generator in Active Directory Replication

Monitoring and Reliability

• Microsoft MOF Reliability Workbooks
• Microsoft Directory Service Product Operations Guide
• System Centre Monitoring Pack for Active Directory (Information)             

TechNet Virtual Labs

• TechNet Virtual Labs: Windows Server 2008 R2

Further Learning

Webcasts

• Active Directory

Microsoft Exams

• TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• Pro: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
• TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring
• Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator

Blogs

• Ask the Directory Services Team
• Glenn LeCheminant's weblog
• AD Troubleshooting Blog
• Active Directory Blog      

Premier Offerings:

• Windows Server 2008 Directory Services Workshop
• Workshop – Windows Server 2008 R2: Introduction and Overview
• Workshop – Windows Server 2008 R2: PKI (AD CS) Upgrade and Migration
• Workshop – Windows Server 2008 DFS Administration and Troubleshooting
• WorkshopPLUS – Active Directory Troubleshooting v2.1
• WorkshopPLUS – Defence in Depth Securing Windows Server 2003
• WorkshopPLUS – Windows Administration and Automation Using PowerShell
• WorkshopPLUS – Windows Server 2003/2008: Active Directory Troubleshooting