There is a secret weapon tool that many admins may not know about that can be extremely helpful in managing a modern Windows Server environment with Active Directory. The Active Directory Administrative Center provides an Active Directory Management Tool to carry out Active Directory tasks in a more modern GUI.
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What is the Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC)?
The Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC) is an often underutilized tool that can be a powerful administrative interface to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). Most admins know about the traditional Active Directory Users and Computers console. However, ADAC is a fully-featured and more modern interface than ADUC and provides a GUI for certain configuration items you won’t find in any other tool.
In addition, you can perform normal day-to-day management tasks like user password resets and setting properties on multiple account objects.
Using ADAC, admins can administer various Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) components, including user accounts, groups, domain controllers, and other configuration.
ADAC has Active Directory Recycle Bin integrated in the GUI, fine-grained password policies, and Windows PowerShell History Viewer, helping to streamlines administrative tasks, enabling more efficient management of network resources.
Whether it’s managing user objects or configuring fine-grained password policies, ADAC offers the tools and flexibility needed for Active Directory and network administration.
Installing Active Directory Administrative Center
The process to “install” ADAC is straightforward. It is an AD DS and LD LDS feature tool that you enable using Server Manager.
Below, I have launched Server Manager on a Domain Controller that is already promoted and has the tools installed. As you can see under the Features screen Remote Server Administration Tools > expand Role Administration Tools > AD DS Tools you will see the Active Directory Administrative Center listed there. Place a check by the tool and finish out installation using the Server Manager wizard.
Installing Active Directory Administrative Center
After you finish installing the Active Directory Administrative Center, you can launch it from the Server Manager Dashboard under the Tools menu.
Launching Active Directory Administrative Center
Active Directory Administrative Center launches.
After ADAC is launched and viewing the dashboard
Active Directory Users and User Accounts Management
One of the first things you may want to use ADAC for is managing your domain’s users. Managing active directory users and user accounts is very straightforward using ADAC.
With the Active Directory Administrative Center, you can perform user account management, such as creating new user accounts, reset a user’s password, and handle user provisioning. You can also control multiple domains, ensuring flexibility and security across your organization.
Resetting the password for an Active Directory user
Resetting passwords and bulk management
Resetting user’s passwords and user provisioning are common tasks that can be time-consuming. With Active Directory Administrative Center, these repetitive tasks are simplified. Whether it’s a single user or all the users in an organizational unit, ADAC allows you to make changes in bulk to multiple users.
Managing the attributes of multiple users with ADAC
Active Directory Recycle Bin and Recovery Tools
Accidents happen, and objects may get deleted inadvertently. The Active Directory Recycle Bin is a feature that comes to the rescue, allowing you to recover deleted objects like user accounts.
Restoring deleted objects becomes an easy task by enabling the recycle bin option. Moreover, the deleted objects container can be accessed for further recovery actions, giving you peace of mind that your data is secure.
Enabling Active Directory recycle bin using the ADAC GUI
The power to recover deleted objects or restore deleted objects is vital in maintaining data integrity. Active Directory’s Recycle Bin, restore option, and deleted objects container ensure that accidentally deleted items can be recovered with ease.
Active Directory Administrative Center provides an easy interface to the Active Directory recycle bin, allowing admins to easily enable the recycle bin and restore objects they need to restore.
Implementing Fine-Grained Password Policies
Security is extremely important, and fine-grained password policies provide excellent protection for user accounts, allowing admins to create granular password policies for different user groups and risk levels.
By using the Active Directory Administrative Center, administrators can easily establish and manage fine-grained password policies, ensuring that passwords meet specific organizational requirements.
Creating an Active Directory fine-grained password policy
Windows PowerShell and Command Line Tools
Automation and repetitive tasks can be carried out using Windows PowerShell and the command line tools integrated with Active Directory Administrative Center. From PowerShell commands to the PowerShell history viewer, everything you need for efficient scripting and automation is at your fingertips.
Viewing Windows PowerShell History from ADAC
Windows PowerShell History Viewer and Scripting
Windows PowerShell history viewer allows easily running PowerShell cmdlets. Not only can you view your PowerShell history, but you can also execute complex PowerShell commands using Windows PowerShell. Automation and scripting become powerful tools in your administrative arsenal.
Global Search and Organizational Units Management
The Active Directory Administrative Center allows for robust global search options. The global search option simplifies your task, searching for user objects, organizational units, or other ad objects. Organizing and managing organizational units is made easy by ADAC, providing a streamlined way to handle your existing domain structure.
The global search in Active Directory Administrative Center is a great way to find objects
Dynamic Access Control and Permissions
Dynamic Access Control is another excellent feature you can manage in ADAC. It enables administrators to manage permissions across various network resources. Configuring these settings lets you determine who can access specific files, enhancing your overall network security.
Configuring Dynamic Access Control
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Active Directory Administrative Center (ADAC)
How can I enable the Active Directory Recycle Bin option for accidentally deleted items?
The Active Directory Recycle Bin option can be activated from the Active Directory Administrative Center interface. Navigate to the appropriate organizational unit and click ‘Enable’ for the Recycle Bin. This feature allows administrators to recover deleted objects, restoring them from the deleted objects container.
What are the advantages of using the Windows PowerShell History Viewer?
The Windows PowerShell History Viewer in Active Directory Administrative Center gives administrators a detailed view of all executed PowerShell commands. It facilitates the tracking of PowerShell history and automates repetitive tasks, allowing you to execute Windows PowerShell cmdlets more efficiently.
How do I restore deleted objects or access the deleted objects container?
Restoring deleted objects is straightforward with ADAC’s Recycle Bin feature. Simply locate the deleted objects container and choose the desired restore location. It provides an option to restore deleted objects individually or in bulk.
How can I enforce fine-grained password policies for user accounts?
The fine-grained password policy in ADAC allows administrators to set specific password requirements for different user accounts or all the users in an organizational unit. By creating these policies, you can ensure that users follow particular password rules, enhancing overall network security.
Can I use ADAC for managing user objects and organizational units?
The Active Directory Administrative Center is designed to manage user objects, organizational units, and group memberships. Accessing the tools menu allows you to open Server Manager, configure user accounts, and perform feature-based installation as required.
Why use ADAC over ADUC?
ADUC or Active Directory Users and Computers is a great administrative interface and one that most admins know very well. However, there are tasks that ADAC makes easier, such as working with the Active Directory recycle bin and working with fine grained password policies.
Wrapping up
Active Directory Administrative Center is an underutilized tool that provides an excellent way to administer your Active Directory Domain Services environment. It provides a way to have a GUI interface for configuration, such as Active Directory recycle bin and fine-grained password policies.
It also allows easily resetting passwords and other user management tasks to streamline day-to-day workflows. Learning about and using ADAC will help take your AD management skills to the next level, as it can be a powerful tool in the management toolbelt.
