WD Lesson - 21

Configuring Global Catalog Servers

Global Catalog Servers

Global catalog is the central repository of information about objects in a tree or forest.      

The global catalog server that stores a full copy of all objects in the directory for its host domains and a partial copy of all objects for all other domains in the forest is designated as a Global catalog server.

Key functions of a Global Catalog

1. It provides universal group membership information to a domain controller for user logon.
2. It enables finding directory information regardless of the domain in the forest.
3. It resolves UPNs when the authenticating domain controller has no knowledge of the account.

Adding a Global Catalog to a site

1. A commonly used application in the site utilizes port 3268 to resolve global catalog queries.
2. A slow or unreliable WAN connection is used to connect to other sites.
3. Users in the site belong to a Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 domain running in native mode.

Creating or Removing a Global Catalog

1.         Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Sites And Services.

2.         In the Active Directory Sites And Services console tree, double-click the domain controller hosting the global catalog.

3.         Right-click NTDS Settings, and then click Properties.

4. In the NTDS Settings Properties dialog box, shown in above Figure, perform one of

the following actions:

• To create a global catalog, select the Global Catalog check box, and then click OK.
• To remove a global catalog, clear the Global Catalog check box, and then click OK.