Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services Overview

Applies To: Windows Server 2012

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service that provides flexible support for directory-enabled applications, without the dependencies and domain-related restrictions of Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). You can run AD LDS on member servers or stand-alone servers. You can also run multiple instances of AD LDS—each with its own independently managed schema—on one server.

By using the Windows Server® 2008 Active Directory® Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) role, formerly known as Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM), you can provide directory services for directory-enabled applications without incurring the overhead of domains and forests and the requirements of a single schema throughout a forest.In the following sections, learn more about the AD LDS server role, the features in it, and the software and hardware considerations for installing it.

Following is the guidance available for AD LDS

• Overview of AD LDS

• Checklist: Create a new instance of AD LDS

• Checklist: Create a replica of an existing AD LDS instance

• Checklist: Import data from LDIF files

• Checklist: Create an application partition

• Checklist: Manage group memberships

• Checklist: Back up or restore an AD LDS instance

• Checklist: Synchronize data from AD DS to AD LDS

• Working with instances

• Working with Directory Partitions

• Working with Authentication and Access Control

• AD LDS Administration Tools

• User Interface: AD LDS Installation Wizard