A Summary of the Microsoft Provided Tools Used for the Management of Active Directory.

This is a summary of the Microsoft provided technologies / tools used for the management of Active Directory.


Backup utility
Performs backup and restore operations. It is automatically installed with Windows Server 2003. In Windows Server 2003, the backup utility is Backup.exe. The wizard, or basic mode, is called Backup or Restore Wizard; and in advanced mode, it is called Backup Utility.

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup

Or to open the Backup tool using the command line:
Start > Run. In the Open box, type ntbackup and then click OK.

DNS Manager
Used for modifying DNS parameters. These centralized management and monitoring tools can be found either in Administrative Tools after initial installation of the DNS service, or through Adminpak.msi.

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools

Or to open DNS Manager using the command line, type:
%systemroot%\System32\ dnsmgmt.msc

Active Directory Domains and Trusts Microsoft Management Console snap-in
Used for modifying Active Directory domains and trusts. These centralized management and monitoring tools can be found either in Administrative Tools after initial installation of the Active Directory, or through Adminpak.msi.

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools

Or to open the MMC snap-in using the command line, type:
%systemroot%\System32\ domain.msc

Active Directory Installation Wizard
Used to promote or demote a domain controller.

Start > Run > dcpromo

Active Directory Schema snap-in
Used for modifying Active Directory schema. This tool does not appear by default in Administrative Tools.

Open the MMC snap-in using the command line, type:
%systemroot%\System32\ schmmgmt.msc

Active Directory Sites and Services MMC snap-in
Used for modifying Active Directory sites and services. This centralized management and monitoring tool can be found either in Administrative Tools after initial installation of the Active Directory, or through Adminpak.msi.

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools

Or to open the MMC snap-in using the command line, type:
%systemroot%\System32\ dssit.msc

Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in
Used for modifying Active Directory users and computers. These centralized management and monitoring tools can be found either in Administrative Tools after initial installation of the Active Directory, or through Adminpak.msi.

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools

Or to open the MMC snap-in using the command line, type:
%systemroot%\System32\ dsa.msc

Adsi edit MMC snap-in
Used for editing Active Directory to add, delete, or move objects within the directory. This centralized management and monitoring tool can be found either in Administrative Tools after initial installation of the Active Directory, or through Adminpak.msi.

Open the MMC snap-in using the command line, type:
%systemroot%\System32\ adsiedit.msc

Dcdiag.exe
This command line tool analyzes the state of domain controllers in the forest or enterprise and reports any problems to assist in troubleshooting.

Start > Run > dcdiag.exe

Event Viewer
Provides logs for transactional reactive reviews of system and service events. It is automatically installed with Windows Server 2003.

Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer

Or to open Event Viewer using the command line:
Start >Run. In the Open box, type eventvwr.msc and then click OK.

Ldp.exe
Used to connect, bind, search, modify, add, and delete against any LDAP-compatible directory such as Active Directory. Used to view objects stored in Active Directory along with their metadata.

Start >Run. In the Open box, type ldp.exe and then click OK.

Net.exe
A set of commands for a variety of tasks, such as managing user accounts and computer accounts, sending messages, and managing shared resources.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type net to see options

Netdiag.exe
Helps isolate networking and connectivity problems by performing a series of tests to determine the state of the network client.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type netdiag /? to see options

Netdom.exe
Enables administrators to manage Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 domains and trust relationships from the command line.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type netdom /? to see options

Nltest.exe
Helps you get a list of domain controllers, force a remote shutdown, and query the status of trust relationships.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type nltest /? to see options

Ntdsutil.exe
Used to perform database maintenance of Active Directory, manage and control single master operations, and remove metadata left behind by domain controllers that were removed from the network without being properly uninstalled.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type ntdsutil /? to see options

Registry Editor
Enables you to view and change settings within the registry.

Start > Run > regedit

Repadmin.exe
Command line tool that helps administrators diagnose replication problems between domain controllers.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type repadmin /? to see options

Secedit.exe
Configures and analyzes system security by comparing current configuration with at least one security template.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type secedit /? to see options

Services snap-in
MMC snap-in that allows you to start, stop, or restart Windows services.

Start > Run > MMC > Services.msc

Ultrasound
A tool that allows administrators to monitor the health of the file replication service (FRS).
See www.microsoft.com/homepage/ms.htm for more information on the Ultrasound utility.

W32tm.exe
A tool used to diagnose problems having to do with Windows time.

Start > Run > cmd at the command prompt, type w32tm /? to see options

Referenced from: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/cits/mo/winsrvmg/adpog/adpog2.mspx