Forests, Trees and Domains

Windows Domain

• A collection of objects that represent real assets
• Logical administrative unit that represents:
  • Users
  • Groups
  • Computers
  • Other Objects

Windows tree

• Collection of domains that share a root domain
• Have a contiguous namespace
• Domain.com
  • sub.domain.com
  • test.domain.com

Windows Forest

• A Forest is one or more domains or domain trees which do not share a contiguous namespace
  • Domain.com
  • Domainb.com
• BUT, these domains:
  • Share a common schema
  • Have a two-way trust established
• Windows Forests are always present – even if there are no Trees
• A forest contains ONE or more domains