Active Directory

Welcome to the Active Directory Web site...

Network Services FAQ's

What is Active Directory?

Active Directory (AD) is the centralized database of user accounts, groups, computers, and other resources that comprise a Windows Server based network environment.

The purpose of this project is to create a centrally managed infrastructure to maintain and secure Microsoft Windows servers and desktops throughout all campuses. This infrastructure will provide centralized authentication, authorization, and management services for Windows-based computers and applications.

What is my I: Drive?

Every full time faculty and staff member has what is called the "I: Drive", also known as a home drive or home folder. This is space allotted to you on the Valencia AD Network for you to store business related files and documents. Anytime you login to a MS AD Window-based computer, your personal I: Drive will automatically be available for you to access.

What is my J: Drive and why is it moving to the S: Drive?

Every full time faculty and staff member has what is called the"J: Drive", also known as the common drive. With the migration to AD, all data on the Novell servers will be migrated to the new Microsoft servers. Most of you use the J: drive, but any current shared folders, whether they map G: or H: or K: or others, will now all be on the S: Drive.

To make data sharing easier and more cohesive, all shared folders will be on the S: Drive along with the common folders, which will change to [department]-Common to easily identify the owner of the shared folder.

This is space allotted to you on the Valencia AD Network for you to share business related files and documents with your department or groups throughout the college. Anytime you login to a MS AD Window-based computer, the S: Drive will automatically be available for you to access.

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Additional information regarding the migration from Novell to Microsoft:

Network Data - Table of Contents:

• I. Overview

• II. Summary of the Network Changes

• III. The Benefits of the Move: Accessing Shared Folders

• IV. Important Information for Faculty and Staff

I. Overview
Valencia will be moving network data from Novell to the Microsoft network environment. This document is intended to clarify the purpose of the move, to outline the benefits, and provide instructions for those who need to modify their systems following the move.

II. Summary of the Network Changes
Two clustered server environments have been configured for network storage, one for home folders and one for shared folders. Network drive mappings will be reduced from over 6 different drive letters, to only two.

      The I : drive. This is your Home Folder or personal network storage space.

      The S: drive. This is network storage for departmental common/shared folders.

III. Benefits of the Move: Accessing your data

One of the big advantages of the move is that common and shared folders are now easily accessible on one server and all data is under the S: drive. Sharing data amongst departments on different campuses will also be easier and more cohesive.

IV. Important Information for Faculty and Staff

Microsoft Active Directory (also called AD) is a complex database that stores network configurations, resources, user accountants and has many features. Being part of AD helps us manage the network and keep your computer secure and updated.

Burning data to a CD

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