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Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services

Purpose

Microsoft Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) is an independent mode of Active Directory that provides dedicated directory services for applications.

Where applicable

Although AD LDS independently provides directory storage and access for applications, AD LDS uses the same standard application programming interfaces (APIs) as Active Directory to manage and access the application data. The resulting conceptual and programming compatibility makes AD LDS ideal for applications that require directory services, but do not require the complete infrastructure features of Active Directory.

Developer audience

AD LDS is a directory services solution for developers who are familiar with programming for Active Directory. Developers who are unfamiliar with Active Directory will find that integrating AD LDS as a directory service for their applications is easier than using the complete features of Active Directory. In both cases, AD LDS provides a directory services solution for developers who seek compatibility and consistency with Active Directory.

Run-time requirements

AD LDS runs with the full feature set on the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 operating system. Previous versions of AD LDS (ADAM) can run on any edition of Windows Server 2003 and on Microsoft Windows XP Professional.

In this section

Topic	Description
About Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services	General information about AD LDS.
Using Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services	Tasks and examples of programming with AD LDS.
Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services Reference	AD LDS programming elements.

Related topics

Active Directory
Active Directory Service Interfaces
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
System.DirectoryServices

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Build date: 3/7/2012

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FAQ

AD LDS is an Application Directory

To the student learning networking- AD LDS wouldn't particularly help you. It's an LDAP directory without the networking underpinnings that are included in the full version of AD. A better way to learn would be to install the Hyper-V role on your Windows Server 2008 and start building domains, domain controllers, etc. in VMs.

History

2/25/2011
Geekwench

Viable Solution for Home Office

I am a student presently taking courses to be a network admin. I am trying to learn more on my own about Server 2008 and wondered if the AD LDS would be a viable solution of learning if it were setup in a home office/server environment. I presently have Server 2008 installed but have not added any roles to it as of yet.

I have 3 systems deployed in a home office environment. 2 systems running Win7 and the server system.

I would like to have the Win7 systems all connected to the server for applications, file storage and sharing, print services to a networked printer as well as shared internet through a USBmodem connection. Faster than dial-up but not real broadband(We do not have real broadband out where I live yet).

Would this be a good starting point for my project?

History

2/17/2011
Raymond E

Yes, someone is really looking in these pages

History

1/5/2011
Erwin Bakels

Founder

Is there anybody out there?

History

12/1/2010
Stepping Stones